Jean Payette
Sport: Hockey
Year Inducted: 1988
Jean Payette began his hockey career in the Cornwall Minor Hockey Association during the early 1960’s.
In 1963, he joined the Cornwall Royals of the Central Junior Hockey League where he soon became the All-Star centre and scoring Champion. In his last season (1965), he was a member of the second All-Star team, scoring a league leading 123 points. The highlight of his junior career came in the playdowns against the Halifax Canadians when he scored three goals in successive games.
Jean Payette turned pro with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and joined the farm team in Tulso of the Central Pro League. Jean, Ron Ward, Ray Miron, and Coach John McLelland were the backbone of the Tulso team which won the League Championship in 1967-68.
Jean decided to further his education and in 1969 enrolled at St. Francis Xavier, where the hockey coach was Cornwallite Gilles Leger.
The following year it was back to Tulsa, where he won the league scoring Championship with 97 points.
Jean next moved to the newly formed World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques for two years.
Jean returned to school in 1974 and obtained his teaching degree. He then began teaching in Ottawa.
He is married, and has two children.