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Heart of the Blackhawks: The Pierre Pilote Story
“The book is a sympathetic and detailed account of Pilote's journey to Hockey immortality . . . Hockey fans ― especially old time Hawks devotees ― will delight in the portraits offered here of Pilote's equally famous teammates.” ― Publishers Weekly From the beginning, the hockey gods looked favourably on Pierre Pilote, a French Canadian lad who went on to become captain of the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks in the 1960s and one of the greatest defencemen in NHL history. Pilote takes us on a rich and unforgettable journey through the rinks and dressing rooms of the Junior “A” St. Catharines Teepees and AHL Buffalo Bisons to his first big and embarrassing shift as a rookie with the Blackhawks. Sit on the bench when Pilote plays with the likes of Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita, Glenn Hall, Moose Vasko, and while he is coached by Tommy Ivan, Rudy Pilous, and Billy Reay; get up close for his on-ice battles with Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, and Henri Richard; and hear the incredible story of how “the swingingest team” from the Windy City captured the imaginations of fans and the hockey world in their 1961 pursuit of the elusive Stanley Cup.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 31, 2023
He was sitting quietly by himself at a golf tournament when I first met him and had the opportunity to speak with him. He was very soft spoken and unassuming.
I seen him every year after that for a number of years. He was slightly before my time but my father in law was so thrilled to meet him
The book was a good read and told the story of Pierre s life but never lost sight of the importance he held for his family
This book was not an ego trip on his behalf but merely the simple story of one man’s hockey career and how fleeting it can be
I really enjoyed the book.
I seen him every year after that for a number of years. He was slightly before my time but my father in law was so thrilled to meet him
The book was a good read and told the story of Pierre s life but never lost sight of the importance he held for his family
This book was not an ego trip on his behalf but merely the simple story of one man’s hockey career and how fleeting it can be
I really enjoyed the book.
November 2, 2017
The authors did a fantastic job with this book. The story was one of a late bloomer who went on to be a great pro and tough customer on the back-end for the Blackhawks. Any reader trying to get an idea of the game in the late fifties & sixties needs to read this novel. I picked this up after the passing of Pierre and well I am glad I did. I had the pleasure of meeting Pierre once and he was very nice to everyone that wanted a photo or autograph. My Uncle had a special relationship with Pierre and got the opportunity to really know Pierre the man after hockey. After reading this book I feel like I know him just as well. Thanks for sharing your story Pierre.
July 10, 2021
First of all, way too many exclamation points!! I never heard of him before until my friend let me borrow his book. At times the story was too in-depth, detailing every shift of seemingly every game. He was interesting. Reading about how things were back then was interesting. People throwing light bulbs on the ice?! Crazy.
October 20, 2013
I received Heart of the Blackhawks as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I was ever so slightly hesitant to enter this giveaway--I am a Blues fan, after all. I kid, I kid--given my love of hockey, I was excited to see that I'd won.
Pierre Pilote isn't necessarily the first name a hockey fan jumps to when thinking of great Blackhawks players of the past. That said, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman was not only a productive player, but also a reliable leader for the great Hawks teams of the early 1960s. Hockey players tend to be an entertaining breed, even more so a generation or two ago, and reading about the exploits of Pilote and his teammates on and off the ice was great.
On the negative side, the narration is a little clunky, and I would have liked to read a little more about his life after retirement (the 40+ years is covered in about 4 pages). And perhaps this is just par for the course when it comes to sports biographies, but recounting season after season (especially after the Hawks' 1961 Cup) seemed to blur together. I think his could have been helped by interspersing more anecdotes about Pilote's personal life, which also wasn't covered in much depth after he started playing professionally.
All in all, though, an interesting read for any hockey fan. Recommended.
I was ever so slightly hesitant to enter this giveaway--I am a Blues fan, after all. I kid, I kid--given my love of hockey, I was excited to see that I'd won.
Pierre Pilote isn't necessarily the first name a hockey fan jumps to when thinking of great Blackhawks players of the past. That said, the Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman was not only a productive player, but also a reliable leader for the great Hawks teams of the early 1960s. Hockey players tend to be an entertaining breed, even more so a generation or two ago, and reading about the exploits of Pilote and his teammates on and off the ice was great.
On the negative side, the narration is a little clunky, and I would have liked to read a little more about his life after retirement (the 40+ years is covered in about 4 pages). And perhaps this is just par for the course when it comes to sports biographies, but recounting season after season (especially after the Hawks' 1961 Cup) seemed to blur together. I think his could have been helped by interspersing more anecdotes about Pilote's personal life, which also wasn't covered in much depth after he started playing professionally.
All in all, though, an interesting read for any hockey fan. Recommended.
September 25, 2013
A story of a true hockey legend that I knew nothing about but was amazed by his story and by his play. This story begins from when his parents got together and then goes through his childhood. Where he actually played baseball first then got into hockey later. That to me was strange since he grew up in Canada, I just figured it would be the other way around. He then moves on to Jr. Leagues and up through minor leagues getting some breaks along the way. That happens though and for him it worked out. Once he got an offer to go to the Blackhawks camp he did everything he could to make the team. From there he turns into one of the best defensemen in the league and would even be in the top for scoring for that time. The 60's. A good story with a lot of information about the original six and when they expanded. If you are into hockey this is a good book for you. I got this book from Net Galley.
August 27, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free copy in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
This would have been much more effective as an "as told to" narrative written in the first person. While there are plenty of interesting quotes and anecdotes from Pilote, there's a lack of immediacy that prevented me from really connecting with the story. The pacing can be an issue, too: Pilote's childhood and NHL career sometimes feel as if they're unfolding in real time, while his post-retirement life is barely mentioned. On the other hand, there is a staggering amount of information presented here, and the authors' respect for Pilote is palpable. I would call this a must-read for Chicago Blackhawks fans, but the somewhat dry journalistic structure means it may not resonate with other hockey devotees.
This would have been much more effective as an "as told to" narrative written in the first person. While there are plenty of interesting quotes and anecdotes from Pilote, there's a lack of immediacy that prevented me from really connecting with the story. The pacing can be an issue, too: Pilote's childhood and NHL career sometimes feel as if they're unfolding in real time, while his post-retirement life is barely mentioned. On the other hand, there is a staggering amount of information presented here, and the authors' respect for Pilote is palpable. I would call this a must-read for Chicago Blackhawks fans, but the somewhat dry journalistic structure means it may not resonate with other hockey devotees.
August 22, 2014
Okay, I really enjoyed this book. I don't read much biography, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was hard-hitting, Original Six-era hockey. Pierre Pilote leaps off the pages, his personality infectious and his story sweet, beautiful, inspiring. This is America right after WWII, and the NHL before helmets. I definitely recommend this for my sister, and for every die hard hockey fan. Not just Blackhawks fans, either. This is classic, golden-age stuff everyone can enjoy. I found it fresh, honest, and (especially the hockey game descriptions) fast-paced and delightful to read.
July 22, 2014
Full review to come...very good account of life in the NHL during the '60s
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews