Gregg Pilling

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Gregg Pilling
Gregg Pilling sitting behind the Lockhart Cup in a team photo of the 1976-77 Philadelphia Firebirds
Gregg Pilling and the Lockhart Cup in 1976
Born (1943-09-25) September 25, 1943 (age 80)
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right wing / Head coach
Shot Right
Playing career 1962–1976

Gregg Pilling (born September 25, 1943) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach. He was named coach of the year by the International Hockey League in 1977–78 season, after he led the Fort Wayne Komets to the Fred A. Huber Trophy as the regular season champions. He also won coach of the year awards in Southern Hockey League, and North American Hockey League, while guiding the Roanoke Valley Rebels and the Philadelphia Firebirds to league championships. Pilling made headlines as a coach for his colourful in-game protests and multiple ejections. Prior to coaching, he had a brief playing career, including a 1963 Memorial Cup championship with the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was voted the most valuable player in his final full season as a player.

Playing career

Gregg Pilling was born on September 25, 1943, in Lethbridge, Alberta.[1][2] He began his playing career with the Lethbridge Native Sons, and then played in the Big 6 Hockey League, before joining the Edmonton Oil Kings.[3][4] He was a member of the 1963 Memorial Cup champion Edmonton team coached by Russ Brayshaw, that included future NHL coaches Glen Sather, Pat Quinn, and Bert Marshall.[5][6] Pilling admits that he had a reputation as a vicious junior player.[7] He was also described as hard, tough, fiery, and creating fireworks on ice.[8][9]

Pilling began playing professional hockey when he signed with

Alberta Senior Hockey League, one each with Medicine Hat Blades, followed by the Drumheller Miners.[3] He earned the nickname Zorro in senior hockey due to his reputation for stickwork.[10]

Pilling moved up to the

Charlotte Observer, as voted by members of opposing teams.[12][13][14][15][16]

Coaching career

Pilling began his full-time coaching career at age 28, when offered a one-year contract with the Roanoke Valley Rebels for the 1972–73 season.[16] He played eight games during the season, and led the Rebels to 40 wins, and a first-place finish in the south division.[1] Roanoke reached the playoff finals, but lost to the Syracuse Blazers.[17] Roanoke switched to the Southern Hockey League for the 1973–74 season, and Pilling stayed with the team. The team's roster that season included eleven French Canadians,[18] and a young Mike Keenan.[6] The Rebels finished first place in the regular season with 53 wins. In the playoffs, Pilling's team trailed 3 games to 1 versus the Winston-Salem Polar Twins, but rallied to win the series in seven games, then defeated the Charlotte Checkers in seven games to win the Crockett Cup.[19] Pilling was named the SHL Coach of the Year.[18][20][21] He resigned on July 29, 1974.[22]

Coach Gregg Pilling in the middle of the front row, with the 1976–77 Philadelphia Firebirds team photo, and the 1976 Lockhart Cup.
Coach Gregg Pilling in the middle of the front row, with the 1976–77 Philadelphia Firebirds, and the 1976 Lockhart Cup

Pilling was named the coach and general manager of Philadelphia's expansion team in the North American Hockey League.[23] The Philadelphia Firebirds were announced in August 1974, resulting from a name-the-team contest.[24] During the 1974–75 NAHL season, Pilling was fined $1000, and suspended five games due to forfeiting a game by pulling his team off the ice when a referee refused to allow a warm-up for the substitute goaltender, when the starter was injured.[25] Pilling led the Firebirds to forty wins, and second place during the regular season.[26] His team faced the seventh place Long Island Cougars in the first round of the playoffs, but were upset in four games.[27] Pilling was named NAHL coach of the year, his second such award in two seasons.[3] He was considered for Edmonton Oilers coaching vacancy in 1975.[28] In the 1975–76 NAHL season, Piling led the Firebirds to 45 wins, and a second-place finished in the west division.[26] He even played one game that year, accumulating 17 penalty minutes.[1] In the playoffs, Pilling led Philadelphia past the Mohawk Valley Comets three games to one, then defeated the defending champion Johnstown Jets four games to one to reach the finals.[29] Pilling won his second playoffs championship as a coach, as Philadelphia captured the Lockhart Cup in six games over the Beauce Jaros.[29][30] He was named the league's general manager of the year.[28] In the 1976–77 NAHL season, Pilling led the Firebirds to 38 wins, and fourth overall in the league.[26] He made headlines by wearing an army helmet on the bench in protest of player helmets being mandatory.[7] He later served a five-game suspension in January for waving a towel at a referee.[31] Philadelphia faced the fifth place Erie Blades in the first round of the playoffs, and lost the series in five games.[32]

After the season, Pilling was interviewed for the

NHL–WHA merger talks.[37]

Pilling was named the new coach and general manager of the Regina Pats, receiving a one-year contract in June.[38] He accepted the job in Regina over other offers, since he preferred to have both positions, not just one.[7] Later in July, he was given a raise by Regina when Indianapolis expressed further interest in Pilling.[39] The season did not go as planned for Pilling, as the Pats struggled near the bottom of the standings, and his frustrations manifested into numerous ejections.[8] During a game on October 22, Pilling was assessed three minor penalties while protesting decisions of the referee, and later received a gross misconduct when he began the third period by putting himself into the penalty box to serve the bench minor that he was assessed, instead of a player.[40][41][42] He was later fined $1,000 for "complete disrespect and irresponsible actions", and the club had to put up a $1,000 bond against further actions.[42] When the 1978–79 WHL season was completed, Regina won 18 games, earned 43 points, and finished second last in the league, out of the playoffs. Pilling was not retained for the next season after the team changed ownership.[43][44]

Pilling served as an interim coach for the Toledo Goaldiggers, after coach Ted Garvin had a heart attack in the offseason.[45] The team was sold partway through the season, and Pilling was retained until the end of the playoffs.[46] In the 1979–80 IHL season, Toledo earned 28 wins, 74 points, and second place in the south division. In the playoffs, they lost in four games to Fort Wayne. Pilling was named coach of Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, when Dennis Smith resigned.[47][48] His team won 36 out of 60 games, finished first place in the south division, and lost in the second round of the playoffs.[49]

Personal life

Pilling has been involved with running hockey schools in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge.[10][50] He has done fundraising for Kin Canada Christmas programs.[51] As a member of the 1962–63 Oil Kings, he was honoured by Hockey Alberta with an induction into the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame.[5] As a member of the 1962–63 Oil Kings, he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[52][53][54] Pilling is an organizer of the Oil Kings alumni association.[6]

Playing statistics

Season-by-season career playing statistics.[1][2]

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1962–63 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL – – – – – – – – – –
1963–64 Edmonton Oil Kings CAHL – – – – – – – – – –
1964–65 Memphis Wings CPHL 23 4 4 8 31 – – – – –
1965–66 Memphis Wings CPHL 68 4 12 16 80 – – – – –
1966–67 Buffalo Bisons AHL 40 2 8 10 22 – – – – –
1967–68 Omaha Knights CPHL 10 3 1 4 27 – – – – –
1967–68 Buffalo Bisons AHL 44 2 3 5 4 1 0 0 0 0
1968–69 Medicine Hat Blades
ASHL
 – – – – – – – – – –
1969–70 Drumheller Miners ASHL – – – – – – – – – –
1970–71 Charlotte Checkers EHL 72 25 38 63 142 13 4 6 10 23
1971–72 St. Petersburg Suns EHL 60 24 28 52 124 6 0 0 0 10
1972–73 Roanoke Valley Rebels EHL 8 1 2 3 18 – – – – –
1975–76 Philadelphia Firebirds
NAHL
 1 0 0 0 17 – – – – –
CPHL Totals 101 11 17 28 138 – – – – –
AHL Totals 84 4 11 15 26 1 0 0 0 0
EHL Totals 140 50 68 118 284 19 4 6 10 33

Coaching record

Season-by-season career coaching record.[1][19][49]

Season Team League GP W L T Pts Pct % Standing Playoffs
1972–73 Roanoke Valley Rebels EHL 76 40 25 11 91 0.599 1st, south Lost in finals
1973–74 Roanoke Valley Rebels SHL 72 53 19 0 106 0.736 1st, SHL Won championship
1974–75 Philadelphia Firebirds
NAHL
 74 40 31 3 83 0.561 2nd, NAHL Lost in round 1
1975–76 Philadelphia Firebirds NAHL 74 45 29 0 90 0.608 2nd, west Won championship
1976–77 Philadelphia Firebirds NAHL 74 38 33 3 79 0.534 4th, NAHL Lost in round 1
1977–78 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 80 40 23 17 97 0.606 1st, south Lost in round 2
1978–79 Regina Pats WHL 72 18 47 7 43 0.299 4th, east Out of playoffs
1979–80 Toledo Goaldiggers IHL 80 28 34 18 74 0.463 2nd, south Lost in round 1
1980–81 Sherwood Park Crusaders AJHL 60 36 23 1 73 0.608 1st, south Lost in round 2
TOTALS 662 338 264 60 736 0.556 4 titles 2 championships

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gregg Pilling hockey statistics and profile". hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Gregg Pilling". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Bremner, Rolland (August 29, 1978). "Gregg Pilling". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. p. 14.Free access icon
  4. ^ Sullivan, Pat (June 8, 1978). "Interesting year". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. p. 29.Free access icon
  5. ^ a b "Hall Of Famers". Edmonton Oil Kings. February 12, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c Greig, Murray (April 17, 2013). "Team alumnus Gregg Pillling says Memorial Cup champion 1963 Edmonton Oil Kings still a tight bunch". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "A promoter is patrolling behind the Regina bench". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. September 19, 1978. p. 6.Free access icon
  8. ^ a b "Wheaties add to Pilling's frustrations". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. January 8, 1979. p. 6.Free access icon
  9. ^ Sullivan, Pat (January 4, 1969). "Sully Says". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. p. 10.Free access icon
  10. ^ a b Johnson, Phil (February 12, 1971). "A letter from Zorro Pilling". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. p. 5.Free access icon
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  12. ^ a b "The Gregg Pilling Story". Suncoast Suns. Roanoke Valley Rebels program. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  13. ^ Little, Todd (July 30, 2013). "A look back at the Suncoast Suns". Florida Hockey History. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. ^ "Suns Photo Gallery". Suncoast Suns. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  15. ^ Telaar, Tom (2014). "EHL All Star Teams and Awards". TheEHL.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Pilling Named Hockey Coach". Radford News Journal. Radford, Virginia. July 31, 1972. p. 5.Free access icon
  17. ^ "Eastern Hockey League (1954–73)". Hockey League History. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Turner, Bill (October 2, 2017). "Pro Ice Hockey Celebrates 50th Anniversary In Roanoke Valley". The Roanoke Star. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Gregg Pilling Team Staff Profile". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  20. ^ "Sullivan named to first team". Gastonia Gazette. Gastonia, North Carolina. February 26, 1974. p. 7.Free access icon
  21. ^ "Pilling Selected Top Hockey Coach". Kannapolis Daily Independent. Kannapolis, North Carolina. February 28, 1974. p. 16.Free access icon
  22. ^ "Needham Signs With Rebels". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. September 12, 1974. p. 62.Free access icon
  23. ^ "Firebirds' Pilling honored". Chester Delaware County Daily Times. Chester, Pennsylvania. February 25, 1975. p. 9.Free access icon
  24. ^ "Names in Sports". Doylestown Intelligencer. Doylestown, Pennsylvania. August 16, 1974. p. 18.Free access icon
  25. ^ "Blazers wallop 'Birds". Chester Delaware County Daily Times. Chester, Pennsylvania. November 27, 1974. p. 13.Free access icon
  26. ^ a b c "North American Hockey League (1973-1977)". Hockey League History. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  27. ^ "1974-75 NAHL Playoff Results". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  28. ^ a b Sullivan, Pat (May 27, 1976). "Silverberg eager". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. p. 25.Free access icon
  29. ^ a b Samworth, Tom (March 22, 2013). "Philadelphia Firebirds". Encyclopedia of the North American Hockey League (1973-1977). Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  30. ^ "Firebirds claim Lockhart Cup". Delaware County Daily Times. Chester, Pennsylvania. April 15, 1976. p. 14.Free access icon
  31. ^ "Blazers..." Syracuse Post Standard. Syracuse, New York. January 6, 1977. p. 16.Free access icon
  32. ^ "1976-77 NAHL Playoff Results". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  33. ^ "Hockey Notes". Bucks County Courier Times. Levittown, Pennsylvania. June 10, 1977. p. 27.Free access icon
  34. ^ a b "International Hockey League (1970-79)". Hockey League History. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  35. ^ "IHL Rookie of Year heads All-Star team". Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. May 10, 1978. p. 23.Free access icon
  36. ^ "Komets' coach quits". Kokomo Tribune. Kokomo, Indiana. June 4, 1978. p. 186.Free access icon
  37. ^ "Pilling bound for Racers?". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. May 30, 1978. p. 73.Free access icon
  38. ^ "Pilling Pats' new coach, GM". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. June 2, 1978. p. 23.Free access icon
  39. ^ "Racers help Gregg Pilling receive raise". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. July 22, 1978. p. 27.Free access icon
  40. ^ "Pats' coach may be in line for discipline". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. October 24, 1978. p. 6.Free access icon
  41. ^ "Pilling puts on show in Regina". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. October 23, 1978. p. 11.Free access icon
  42. ^ a b "Pilling isn't talking after really grand day". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. October 25, 1978. p. 9.Free access icon
  43. ^ Drinnan, Gregg (September 19, 1979). "The Pats do some P.R. work". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. p. 9.Free access icon
  44. ^ Drinnan, Gregg (May 2, 1980). "Offence is the Pats' game". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. p. 10.Free access icon
  45. ^ "Sanko is named". Defiance Crescent News. Defiance, Ohio. June 3, 1980. p. 29.Free access icon
  46. ^ "Arena purchases Diggers". Defiance Crescent News. Defiance, Ohio. February 28, 1980. p. 34.Free access icon
  47. ^ "Sherwood Park, Alta (CP)". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. November 10, 1981. p. 9.Free access icon
  48. ^ Sullivan, Pat (November 21, 1981). "Why Dan Kepley?". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. p. 23.Free access icon
  49. ^ a b "AJHL Stats History". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  50. ^ Sullivan, Pat (July 11, 1972). "Sully Says". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. p. 9.Free access icon
  51. ^ "Hockey for Hampers Showdown". Acheson Business. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  52. ^ "Edmonton Oil Kings, 1963 & 1966". Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  53. ^ "1963 & 1966 Oil Kings Inducted into Hall of Fame". OurSports Central. May 27, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  54. ^ "1963 & 1966 Oil Kings Inducted Into Hall Of Fame". Edmonton Oil Kings. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
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