Gordie Drillon
Winger who pioneered the net-front scoring style.
Gordon Arthur Drillon was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, born in Moncton, New Brunswick, on October 23, 1913. He spent six of his seven NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, forming part of a high-scoring line from 1936 to 1942. A winger with a reputation for a precise shot, Drillon developed a distinctive approach that made him a top scorer. His strong build allowed him to hold his position in front of the net, where he could tip shots or grab rebounds. This style earned him the league scoring title in 1938—the last time a Maple Leaf has done so—and was later copied by players like Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli, and Dave Andreychuk. He twice scored the series-winning goal for Toronto. Drillon won the Stanley Cup with the Maple Leafs in the 1941–42 season. Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for 1943, he finished second on the team in goals. After that season, he left hockey to join the Royal Canadian Air Force for the remainder of World War II. Following the war, he coached in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, during the 1948–49 season. He later scouted for the Maple Leafs in the Maritimes and then worked for the New Brunswick civil service. Drillon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975. He died in Saint John, New Brunswick, on September 23, 1986, and was buried in Ocean View Memorial Gardens.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Right wing
- Played For
- Toronto Maple Leafs / Montreal Canadiens
- Shoots
- Right
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 186
- Birth Date
- 1913-10-23
- Birth Place
- Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Death Date
- 23 September 1986 · 1913 · 10 · 23
- Death Place
- Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
- Career Start
- 1935
- Career End
- 1950
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Drillon was a winger noted for his deadly accurate shot. He created a specific style of play that made him a leading scorer: his strong frame made it difficult for opposing defencemen to clear him from the front of the net, allowing him to park himself in front of the opposing netminder to redirect shots or pick up rebounds. This style earned him a league scoring title in the 1937–38 season, to date the last a Toronto Maple Leaf player has won. Future stars such as Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli, and Dave Andreychuk emulated his innovative style with great success. He scored the series-winning goal for Toronto twice.
Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for the 1943 season, Drillon finished second on the team in goals scored. At season's end, he cut short his hockey career and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving for the remainder of World War II. After the war, he worked as a hockey coach in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland in the 1948/49 season. Drillon later returned to his native New Brunswick where 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.
Reader's Guide
Drillon's significance lies in his pioneering net-front style, which he used to win the NHL scoring title in 1937–38—the last such title by a Toronto Maple Leaf as of the article. His approach, using his strong frame to screen goaltenders and deflect shots, was later emulated by notable players like Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli, and Dave Andreychuk, indicating his lasting influence on offensive tactics. He contributed to a Stanley Cup victory in 1941–42 and twice scored series-winning goals for Toronto. His career was cut short by military service in World War II, after which he worked as a coach and scout before entering civil service. His induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975 recognizes his impact as a scorer and innovator.
Did You Know?
- Drillon won the NHL scoring title in the 1937–38 season, the last by a Toronto Maple Leaf as of the article.
- He cut short his hockey career to join the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
- Future stars Phil Esposito, Dino Ciccarelli, and Dave Andreychuk emulated his net-front style.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players 1-24
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