Gilles Meloche facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gilles Meloche |
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Meloche with the Penguins, April 2012
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| Born | July 12, 1950 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Black Hawks California Golden Seals Cleveland Barons Minnesota North Stars Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| NHL Draft | 70th overall, 1970 Chicago Black Hawks |
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| Playing career | 1970–1988 | ||
Gilles Emile Meloche (born July 12, 1950) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and scout. He used to be a professional ice hockey player. Meloche played as a goaltender (the player who guards the net) in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the Chicago Black Hawks, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Today, he works as a special scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before 2013, he was their longtime goaltending coach. During his time as coach, the Penguins won three Stanley Cups. Meloche was born in Montreal, Quebec.
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Playing Hockey: Gilles Meloche's Career
After playing junior hockey with the Verdun Maple Leafs, Gilles Meloche was chosen in the 1970 amateur draft. The Chicago Black Hawks picked him as the 70th player overall. His first professional season was mostly spent with the Flint Generals. He also played two games with the Chicago Black Hawks.
Early NHL Days: Seals and Barons
The Black Hawks already had a strong goalie, so Meloche was traded. He went to the California Golden Seals. This team was one of the weakest in the league. In his first season with the Seals (1971–72), he played very well. He had a good goals-against average (GAA) of 3.33. This means he didn't let in many goals per game. He also had four shutouts, which means he didn't let the other team score any goals. One of these shutouts was against the Boston Bruins, a very strong team at the time.
Even though the Seals struggled, Meloche continued to be their top goalie. He faced many shots on goal for four more seasons. The team then moved and became the Cleveland Barons. Meloche continued to play well for the Barons for two more seasons. The team's performance improved only a little.
Success with the Minnesota North Stars
In 1978, the Barons team joined with the Minnesota North Stars. Meloche became the main goalie for Minnesota. This was where he had his greatest success. He played eight seasons with the North Stars. He was even chosen to play in the NHL All-Star game in 1980 and 1982.
The Minnesota North Stars also did well in the playoffs. They reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1981. They also made it to the semi-finals in 1980 and 1984.
Final Seasons with the Penguins
By the 1984–85 season, Meloche was 34 years old. Even though he started 32 games for the North Stars, younger goalies were also playing well. His contract ended, and his rights were traded to the Edmonton Oilers. However, the Oilers already had two great goalies. So, Meloche was traded again without playing any games for Edmonton.
Before the 1985–86 season, the Oilers sent Meloche to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played his final three seasons as the Penguins' starting goalie. He retired after the 1987–88 season.
In his career, Meloche played 788 NHL regular season games. He had a goals-against average of 3.64 and 20 shutouts. He also played in 45 playoff games.
After Playing: Coaching and Scouting
After retiring as a player, Meloche became a scout for the Penguins. He worked as a scout from 1989 to 2006. During much of that time, he was also a goaltending coach and consultant. He was part of the staff when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 1991, 1992, and 2009.
Gilles Meloche and his wife, Sophie, live in Pittsburgh. His son, Eric, also became a professional ice hockey player. Eric played 74 NHL games between 2000 and 2007 for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers.
