Paul Pilon

Paul Pilon was born in Montreal, June 6, 1915. He was the son of “J.T.” Pilon and his wife, the former Blanche Rochon. Paul Pilon became a Glengarrian by adoption when his family took up residence in Alexandria in 1918.

Paul Pilon was involved in sports from his elementary school days. As an Alexandria High School student, his prowess was noted beyond his home playgrounds, especially in inter high school field days and United Counties’ competitions in Cornwall. His awards were many and cherished by his family.

In Chisholm Park and Eastern Ontario box lacrosse,Paul was a two-way stalwart playing with and against able bodied men although he was only a teenager. The same can be said of his hockey talent. When not playing such games, he found time to play tennis and even croquet with his elders on the Alexandria court.

The Pilon family moved to Ottawa in 1934. Paul was soon rated among the high school budding stars in football and Ottawa Junior City League hockey.

As a two-way, scoring defenceman, hockey became his best game, so much so that Clarkson College, Potsdam, N.Y., gave him a scholarship in Chemical Engineering.

The Montreal Canadiens, by this time (1938), were anxious to sign Paul to a contract. On his way back to Potsdam from Cornwall, where he had conferred with Canadian officials, Paul Pilon was killed in a tragic car accident.

This promising young NHL prospect was considered the greatest French Canadian athlete in the annals of Glengarry sport history.