Rich Pilon
Encyclopedia
Richard Brian Pilon is a retired NHL ice hockey
player. A stay-at-home defenceman
, Pilon played for three teams throughout his 15-year NHL career, the New York Islanders
, New York Rangers
and St. Louis Blues, but is primarily recognized for his time with the Islanders.
. He would play 10 season there before being claimed on waivers December 1, 1999 by the New York Rangers
. He played parts of two seasons as a Ranger. Was traded to the San Jose Sharks
for a 7th round draft pick, days before he became an unrestricted free agent in 2001. He was then signed by the St. Louis Blues on July 10, 2001. He played 8 games for the Blues until he suffered a broken left wrist in a game against the Rangers that subsequently ended his NHL career.
not only saw one of the greatest upsets in NHL playoff history (with the Islanders' David Volek
eventual overtime goal) but one of the worst freak accidents ever sustained on the ice.
Early in the first period of Game 7 of the Pens-Islanders 2nd round series, the puck went into the Islanders corner. Penguins' star forward Kevin Stevens
skated in hard and attempted to hit Pilon but instead was met by Pilon's visor which knocked Stevens unconscious in mid-air. The unprotected fall left Stevens to smash his face on the ice upon impact. Stevens laid motionless on the ice for several seconds with the referee and Penguin teammates concerned, a pool of blood forming around Stevens' head, before the team trainer attended to his side. Stevens would be carted off the ice in a stretcher with a neck brace around his head. He required immediate surgery on his crushed face, injuries that ended up being a broken sinus bone and nose, as well as many facial lacerations and bruises. Stevens' face would require over a hundred stitches that left him unrecognizable, even toward his own family, for the next few weeks until the swelling went down.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. A stay-at-home defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, Pilon played for three teams throughout his 15-year NHL career, the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
and St. Louis Blues, but is primarily recognized for his time with the Islanders.
Drafted
The New York Islanders drafted him in the 7th round, 143rd overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.NHL career
Pilon made his debut in the 1988–89 NHL season, playing 62 games, recording 14 assists and 242 penalty minutes for the New York IslandersNew York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He would play 10 season there before being claimed on waivers December 1, 1999 by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. He played parts of two seasons as a Ranger. Was traded to the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for a 7th round draft pick, days before he became an unrestricted free agent in 2001. He was then signed by the St. Louis Blues on July 10, 2001. He played 8 games for the Blues until he suffered a broken left wrist in a game against the Rangers that subsequently ended his NHL career.
Kevin Stevens hit
May 14, 1993; Game 7 of the Patrick Division Finals between the underdog New York Islanders and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
not only saw one of the greatest upsets in NHL playoff history (with the Islanders' David Volek
David Volek
David Volek is a Czech former professional ice hockey player.Volek was born in the former Czechoslovakia, where he played in 1983–84 for HC Slavia Prague. He later moved to HC Sparta Praha and became a member of the Czecholovakian national ice hockey team for the 1988 Winter Olympics...
eventual overtime goal) but one of the worst freak accidents ever sustained on the ice.
Early in the first period of Game 7 of the Pens-Islanders 2nd round series, the puck went into the Islanders corner. Penguins' star forward Kevin Stevens
Kevin Stevens
Kevin "Artie" Stevens is a retired ice hockey player and current NHL scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played left wing on a line with Mario Lemieux during the Penguins' Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992...
skated in hard and attempted to hit Pilon but instead was met by Pilon's visor which knocked Stevens unconscious in mid-air. The unprotected fall left Stevens to smash his face on the ice upon impact. Stevens laid motionless on the ice for several seconds with the referee and Penguin teammates concerned, a pool of blood forming around Stevens' head, before the team trainer attended to his side. Stevens would be carted off the ice in a stretcher with a neck brace around his head. He required immediate surgery on his crushed face, injuries that ended up being a broken sinus bone and nose, as well as many facial lacerations and bruises. Stevens' face would require over a hundred stitches that left him unrecognizable, even toward his own family, for the next few weeks until the swelling went down.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
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1985-86 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 6 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 1 10
1986-87 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 68 4 21 25 192 7 1 6 7 17
1987-88 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 65 13 34 47 177 9 0 6 6 38
1988-89 New York Islanders NHL 62 0 14 14 242 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 New York Islanders NHL 14 0 2 2 31 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 New York Islanders NHL 60 1 4 5 126 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 New York Islanders NHL 65 1 6 7 183 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Capital-District Islander AHL 6 0 1 1 8 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 New York Islanders NHL 44 1 3 4 164 15 0 0 0 50
1993-94 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 2 0 0 0 8 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 New York Islanders NHL 28 1 4 5 75 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 New York Islanders NHL 20 1 1 2 40 -- -- -- -- --
1995-96 New York Islanders NHL 27 0 3 3 72 -- -- -- -- --
1996-97 New York Islanders NHL 52 1 4 5 179 -- -- -- -- --
1997-98 New York Islanders NHL 76 0 7 7 291 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 New York Islanders NHL 52 0 4 4 88 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 New York Islanders NHL 9 0 2 2 34 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 New York Rangers NHL 45 0 4 4 36 -- -- -- -- --
2000-01 New York Rangers NHL 69 2 9 11 175 -- -- -- -- --
2001-02 St. Louis Blues NHL 8 0 2 2 9 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL Totals 631 8 69 77 1745 15 0 0 0 50