FOR many years, countless local hockey talents who donned the blades and displayed exceptional talent on the ice, remained equally as personable and amiable off it.
One such good-natured individual, among this gifted group, is Nelson Pyatt.
A standout in his minor hockey days, he thrilled residents at an early age with his offensive exploits.
One such performance was back in April of 1965, when his hat trick, including notching the game-winner in overtime, propelled the Fort William Elks to a dramatic 4-3 triumph over the crosstown rival Port Arthur Giants in the final of the renowned Elks Central Canada Peewee Hockey Tournament as an 11-year-old.
A half decade later, at just 16, the skilled center made the move to the junior ranks with the fabled Port Arthur Marrs’.
As a rookie in the 1970-71 campaign, Pyatt helped Port Arthur finish in top spot in a tightly-contested Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League, just ahead of the Westfort Hurricanes and the Fort William Canadiens.
Taking on Westfort in the final, the Marrs’ proved to be too much, taking the best-of-seven affair in five games.
Next came a fairly easy time of capturing the Jack Adams Trophy as Thunder Bay Amateur Hockey Association district winners, as they crowned the Fort Frances Royals, via a three-outing sweep, where they outscored their opponents by a 37-8 count.
A raucous series with the Sudbury Wolves came next in a best-of-seven set that went the distance and featured a late full-scale Game 5 brawl that involved the local constabulary in the Nickel City and resulted in a police escort to the train station across from the Sudbury Community Arena, so that Port Arthur could make their way home.
Following a Game 6 triumph at the Fort William Gardens, Pyatt was clutch in the decider as he tallied twice and then helped set-up Larry Zulianello’s series-deciding goal with just over a minute remaining, in a 4-3 victory over the Wolves in a fan-filled venue.
The Marrs’ run came to an end however, as the Albert (Ab) Cava-coached club were dropped by the eventual Eastern Canadian champion and Centennial Cup finalist, the Charlottetown Islanders.
Pyatt’s play that season did catch the eye of local legend Gus Bodnar though, the head coach of the OHA’s Oshawa Generals at the time.
Wisely securing his services for the following campaign, Pyatt went on to average nearly a point-per-game in two years with Oshawa and eventually served as co-captain of the club in 1972-73 with fellow Lakehead standout, Lee Fogolin Jr.
His solid play with the Gennies saw him taken in the third-round, 39th overall, of the 1973 NHL Draft as well as in the fifth round, 59th overall, during the World Hockey Association’s selection of players.
After making his NHL debut with Detroit back on October 13, 1973, Pyatt made five appearances with the Red Wings before being sent to England to play for the London Lions, the brainchild of then Detroit owner Bruce Norris, who had a vision of forming a European professional league that would affiliate with NHL clubs.
While it never materialized, Pyatt produced 62 points in 61 match-ups across Europe with a squad made up largely with Red Wings draft picks and prospects, including fellow Thunder Bay native Murray Wing.
Returning to North America the following year, he split time in the Motor City and in the AHL before being acquired by the Washington Capitals.
Pyatt went on to notch his initial NHL marker, with the Caps, on March 1, 1975 in a road contest versus the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
One night later came his first assist in the league, in a home affair against the Vancouver Canucks.
After 93 games with Washington, Pyatt moved on to the Colorado Rockies where he added more outings to his NHL resume.
He would be a mainstay in Colorado for the better part four seasons, appearing in 189 NHL contests.
In all, his NHL-stat ledger read 296 games played, while accumulating 71 goals and 63 assists for 134 points.
After some time in the Central Hockey League in 1979-80, Pyatt headed back to Europe where he put up solid numbers, including topping his teams in Germany and Austria in goals to wrap-up his pro career.
Overall, he was part of 335 markers in the minor pro and European ranks, in 219 appearances there, while collecting over 500 points in all as part of an overall 577-game career.
Following in their father’s footsteps, Pyatt’s sons Taylor and Tom both went on to compete in the NHL.
Nelson Pyatt was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Images courtesy Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame