October 23, 1913 - September 23, 1986
Gordon Arthur Drillon
(Photo;findagrave.com)
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick.
A professional hockey player, Drillon played the position of Right Wing for the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the Eastern Hockey League from 1935 to 1936, and the Syracuse Stars of the International-American Hockey League, from 1936 to 1937. From 1936 through to 1942 he was part of one of the NHL's most prolific scoring lines as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won a Stanley Cup during the 1941–42 season.
Drillon played only seven seasons in the NHL, six of those with Toronto and one with the Montreal Canadiens. A winger noted for his deadly accurate shot, he created a specific style of play that made him a leading scorer. Drillon's strong frame made it difficult for opposing defencemen to clear him from the front of the net. Drillon was able to securely park himself in front of the opposing netminder to re-direct shots or pick up rebounds. This style of play would earn him a league scoring title in the 1937–38 season. Future stars such as Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli and Dave Andreychuk emulated his innovative style with great success.
Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for the 1943 season he finished second on the team in goals scored. At season's end, Drillon cut short his hockey career and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving for the remainder of World War II. After the war, he played for the Valleyfield Braves, of the Quebec Pro Hockey League, from 1944 to 1945. He worked as a hockey coach in Grand Falls-Windsor Newfoundland in 1948/49 season and returned to his native New Brunswick where he ended his playing career with the the Saint John Beavers, of the Maritime Senior Hockey League, from 1949 to 1950. After his playing career ended he was employed as a scout for the Maple Leafs, covering the Maritime provinces. He eventually accepted a job with the New Brunswick civil service.
He was the recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1937 to 1938. Drillon was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1970, Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, Moncton Sports Wall of Fame in 1986, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Drillon was also a softball pitching star. He led the Drydock Royals (1953), East Saint John Royals (1957) to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island championships, His pitching skills were reconized by his induction into the Softball NB Hall of Fame in 2002.
Gordie Drillon died in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1986 and was interred there in the Ocean View Memorial Gardens cemetery.
Gordon Arthur Drillon
Born in Moncton, New Brunswick.
A professional hockey player, Drillon played the position of Right Wing for the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the Eastern Hockey League from 1935 to 1936, and the Syracuse Stars of the International-American Hockey League, from 1936 to 1937. From 1936 through to 1942 he was part of one of the NHL's most prolific scoring lines as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won a Stanley Cup during the 1941–42 season.
Drillon played only seven seasons in the NHL, six of those with Toronto and one with the Montreal Canadiens. A winger noted for his deadly accurate shot, he created a specific style of play that made him a leading scorer. Drillon's strong frame made it difficult for opposing defencemen to clear him from the front of the net. Drillon was able to securely park himself in front of the opposing netminder to re-direct shots or pick up rebounds. This style of play would earn him a league scoring title in the 1937–38 season. Future stars such as Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli and Dave Andreychuk emulated his innovative style with great success.
Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for the 1943 season he finished second on the team in goals scored. At season's end, Drillon cut short his hockey career and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving for the remainder of World War II. After the war, he played for the Valleyfield Braves, of the Quebec Pro Hockey League, from 1944 to 1945. He worked as a hockey coach in Grand Falls-Windsor Newfoundland in 1948/49 season and returned to his native New Brunswick where he ended his playing career with the the Saint John Beavers, of the Maritime Senior Hockey League, from 1949 to 1950. After his playing career ended he was employed as a scout for the Maple Leafs, covering the Maritime provinces. He eventually accepted a job with the New Brunswick civil service.
He was the recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1937 to 1938. Drillon was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1970, Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975, Moncton Sports Wall of Fame in 1986, the Canada Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Drillon was also a softball pitching star. He led the Drydock Royals (1953), East Saint John Royals (1957) to New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island championships, His pitching skills were reconized by his induction into the Softball NB Hall of Fame in 2002.
Gordie Drillon died in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1986 and was interred there in the Ocean View Memorial Gardens cemetery.
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