Wayne Dillon Explained

Played For:Toronto Toros
New York Rangers
Birmingham Bulls
Winnipeg Jets
Ntl Team:Canada
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:185
Birth Date:May 25, 1955
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Draft:12th overall
Draft Year:1975
Draft Team:New York Rangers
Career Start:1973
Career End:1982

Gerald Wayne Dillon (born May 25, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the World Hockey Association with the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls, and in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets between 1973 and 1980.

Playing career

As a youth, Dillon played in the 1967 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Scarboro Lions minor ice hockey team.[1]

Dillon spent four years in the National Hockey League (NHL) and was known as a top scorer in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and junior leagues. He was chosen 12th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1975 NHL amateur draft after he had already played two seasons in the WHA for the Toronto Toros, recording 95 points in 1974-75. He had been one of the first underage players to sign with a WHA team prior to becoming eligible for the NHL amateur draft. With the Rangers, he recorded 44 points in his rookie season in 1975-76. Dillon was forced into earlier retirement due to hindered performance as a result from injuries.

His brother, Gary Dillon, played briefly in the NHL as a centre for the Colorado Rockies. Following 229 NHL games Dillon recorded a total of 43 goals and 66 assists for 109 points.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1970–71Markham WaxersMetJHL
1971–72Toronto MarlborosOHA56 14 14 28 810 0 1 1 0
1972–73Toronto MarlborosOHA59 47 60 107 2510 2 10 12 10
1972–73Toronto MarlborosMC3 1 3 4 0
1973–74Toronto TorosWHA71 30 35 65 1312 5 6 11 9
1974–75Toronto TorosWHA77 29 66 95 226 4 4 8 4
1975–76New York RangersNHL79 21 24 45 10
1976–77New York RangersNHL78 17 29 46 33
1977–78New York RangersNHL59 5 13 18 153 0 1 1 0
1977–78New Haven NighthawksAHL3 2 0 2 0
1978–79Birmingham BullsWHA64 12 27 39 43
1979–80Winnipeg JetsNHL13 0 0 0 2
1979–80Canadian National TeamIntl4 1 0 1 4
1980–81SC Rapperswil–JonaNDA
1981–82Fredericton ExpressAHL37 7 13 20 25
WHA totals212 71 128 199 7818 9 10 19 13
NHL totals229 43 66 109 603 0 1 1 0

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA. 2018. Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2019-01-08. 2019-03-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf. dead.