WHILE perhaps not as widely renowned in hockey circles, as other members of his family, Don Poile certainly supplied his own contributions on the ice.
The younger brother of Hockey Hall of Fame honoured member Norman (Bud) Poile and the uncle of long-time NHL general manager David Poile, Don was born in Fort William back on June 1, 1932.
Picking up the nickname Beaver, he went on to carve out a solid junior stint with the Fort William Hurricanes, where he was well over a point-per-game producer, over three seasons with the club.
Poile also holds the distinction of scoring the first-ever goal at the Fort William Gardens as he notched the initial marker in a contest versus the rival Fort William Columbus Canadiens back on March 6, 1951.
His last year of Jr., was a memorable one as he supplied 30 tallies, in as many outings, during the course of the regular season.
He then led the Herks in playoff scoring to help them capture the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League championship in 1952, as they knocked off the powerful Port Arthur West End Bruins, who had claimed the crown the previous four campaigns, including going on to win the Memorial Cup in 1948.
That Hurricanes squad also featured the likes of fellow forward Alex (Moe) Irving, future 13-year NHL defenceman Larry Cahan and netminder Dave Gatherum.
Just how pivotal was Poile’s performance en route to the title?
Well, he scored eight times in the six-game affair with the Bruins, including potting a pair in the finale, a 4-3 victory in front of a record-setting throng of 5,696, who were jammed into the Gardens.
Fort William then went on to defeat the Winnipeg Monarchs on the Memorial Cup trail, prior to falling to a solid Regina Pats side in the Abbott western final, that needed six contests, before it was decided.
Turning pro together, Irving and Poile joined the IHL’s Milwaukee Chiefs and finished one-two respectively in offensive production.
After that came an opportunity to skate for the Edmonton Flyers in the old Western Hockey League, that featured his brother Bud serving as player-coach, before he morphed into the role of head coach and GM.
His early contributions helped the Flyers hoist the President’s Cup as WHL champs in 1953.
A solid first full campaign in Edmonton earned him the opportunity to make his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in October of 1954.
He also appeared in the NHL All-Star Game with the talent-laden Red Wings, who went on to win a second-straight Stanley Cup that season, that featured fellow Lakehead stars, Alex Delvecchio and Benny Woit.
Back to the Alberta capital for four more years, Poile racked up 200-plus points in that span that featured another WHL triumph in 1955, along with winning the Edinburgh Trophy in an inter-league showdown vs. the Shawinigan-Falls Cataracts from Quebec.
His solid skill-set got him another NHL moment as Jack Adams brought him back to the Red Wings for 1957-58.
Poile’s first NHL goal was the game-winner, with as assist from Gordie Howe, as Detroit blanked the New York Rangers 4-0 on October 30, 1957.
As for his initial helper, it came in December, as part of a 3-2 home decision over the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Olympia.
In all, he would appear 66 times in the Original 6 era, scoring on nine occasions, while helping set-up nine others.
Closing out an eight-year run in Edmonton, he wrapped up his playing career in 1962 with a 14-point effort, in a dozen outings, as the Flyers won yet another WHL championship, built and coached by his brother, that also featured another Lakehead connection, in Lou Marcon, on defence.
Winning titles, while scoring 310 times, in just under 800 games played, and amassing 668 points, shows Don (Beaver) Poile certainly did his part to earn a place on the extensive list of local hockey standouts.
Don Poile added to family’s distinguished hockey name
Don Poile scored the first-ever goal at the Fort William Gardens on March 6, 1951; played in the 1954 NHL All-Star Game and won multiple championships his career. Images: Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.