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.[2] Paiement attacked Swedish player Lars-Erik Ericsson (who received a stick in the eye) on April 22,[3] as well as Russian player Sergei Babinov (who was struck on the head by Paiement's hockey stick) after the score reached 8-0 in an 11-1 Team Canada loss.[4][5]"Wilf Paiement was the worst coward I ever saw on ice", said Swedish player Lars-Gunnar Lundberg, who played in the Swedish national team of 1977 in an interview in 2016.
On October 25, 1978, Paiement attacked Detroit Red Wings centre Dennis Polonich with his stick.[6] 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. Paiement received a match penalty.[7] Initially suspended indefinitely[8] Paiement had two league hearings before his sentence was reduced to 15 games, of which he had already served six.[9] was given the second longest (at the time) suspension in NHL history - 15 games. Polonich sued, and was rewarded with a settlement of $850,000 on August 17, 1982.[10]
Wilf Paiement was the first player drafted by the Kansas City Scouts/Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils organization. He played in both the first games of the Scouts and the Rockies. Upon his retirement from the NHL, Paiement was the last active player to have played for the Scouts.
While Paiement was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs he wore the number 99 for the 187 games he spent in Toronto, and was the last player other than Wayne Gretzky to wear that number, last wearing it on March 6, 1982 against the Montreal Canadiens.[12] Referencing his time using the number 99, Paiement appeared in a commercial for the Canadian furniture store Leon's in 2008, in honour of their 99th anniversary. The commercial teased the appearance of Gretzky before revealing Paiement, who then said "What, you're expecting someone else?"
Awards
OMJHL First All-Star Team – 1974
WEC–A Best Forward – 1979 (Tied with Sergei Makarov)
