WILF PAIEMENT – 3X5 INDEX CARD

Description

Wilfrid Paiement, Jr. (born October 16, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right wing in the National Hockey League from 1974 through 1988, for seven different NHL teams. He is the younger brother of former NHL hockey player Rosaire Paiement.

Wilf Paiement was selected in the first round (2nd overall) of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Scouts. He played two seasons in Kansas City before the team moved to Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies.
Paiement was a member of the Canadian team that returned to the World Championship in Austria in 1977 after seven years of absence. During the tournament, frustrated by the lack of success, many members of Team Canada, including Paiement, resorted to violence.[citation needed] Paiement attacked Swedish player Lars-Erik Ericsson (who received a stick in the eye), as well as Russian players Shadrin, Yakushev and Babinov (who were all knocked unconscious).[citation needed] On October 25, 1978, Paiement attacked Detroit Red Wings centre Dennis Polonich with his stick.[citation needed] The diminutive five-foot-six-inch Polonich was trash-talking with Paiement, when Paiement struck Polonich’s across the face with a two-handed slash, which resulted in severe facial lacerations, a smashed nose that required extensive reconstructive surgery, and a severe concussion.[citation needed] Along with a match penalty, Paiement was given the second longest (at the time) suspension in NHL history – 15 games.[citation needed] Polonich sued, and was rewarded with a settlement of $850,000 in 1982; he has suffered with breathing problems from then on.[citation needed] Paiement was traded from the Rockies to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Pat Hickey for Lanny McDonald and Joel Quenneville on December 29, 1979.
Paiement played in Toronto for the next three seasons before again being traded to the Quebec Nordiques for Miroslav Frycer and a 7th round pick in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft (Jeff Triano). After five seasons in Quebec, he was traded to the New York Rangers for Steve Patrick where he only played eight games.
The Buffalo Sabres claimed Paiement off waivers on October 6, 1986. He only played one season in Buffalo before rounding out his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins and finally, the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL in 1987–88.