Gino Odjick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gino Odjick
Odjick in 2015
Born	(1970-09-07)September 7, 1970 Maniwaki, Quebec, Canada
Died	January 15, 2023(2023-01-15) (aged 52) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Vancouver Canucks New York Islanders Philadelphia Flyers Montreal Canadiens
NHL Draft	86th overall, 1990 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	1990–2002

Gino Odjick (born September 7, 1970, died January 15, 2023) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a left winger in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons. From 1990 to 2002, he played for teams like the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Montreal Canadiens.

Gino was part of the Algonquin people, an Indigenous group in Canada. He was known as an "enforcer" in hockey. This meant his main job was to protect his teammates and sometimes get into fights on the ice. Because of his background and playing style, he was nicknamed "Algonquin Assassin" and "Maniwaki Mauler."

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

Gino Odjick was born in Kitigan Zibi, an Algonquin reserve near Maniwaki, Quebec. His father, Joe, was born in 1939. Joe's father, Basil, was a trapper and fishing guide. Basil sadly died in France during World War II.

When Joe was nine, he went to a residential school. He was given the number 29 there. Gino later used this number during his hockey career. Gino was the only son among six children. His parents also cared for many foster children. Gino was first named Wayne, but his family changed it to Gino because there was another Wayne on the reserve.

Gino started playing hockey at a young age. When he was 11, he joined his first organized team. His father, Joe, managed this team. Gino played in the 1983 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He played for local teams, often coached by his father, until he was 15.

At 15, Gino thought about quitting hockey. But he decided to try out for the Hawkesbury Hawks, a junior team. He had been a defensive player, but he realized his skills were not enough. So, he became an enforcer instead. This is where he first got the nickname "the Algonquin Assassin."

Gino believed his strong sense of defending his team came from dealing with tensions between Indigenous people and others. He later worked to help young Indigenous people.

Professional Hockey Career

Gino Odjick played two seasons with the Laval Titan in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1990. He was the 86th player picked overall.

Before joining the Canucks, he played 17 games for their minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals. He joined the Canucks full-time in 1990. Fans quickly loved him, and they would chant "Gino, Gino!" to show their support.

His main role with the Canucks was as an enforcer. He often played on a line with star player Pavel Bure. In the 1993–94 season, Gino had his best year, scoring 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points. He played eight seasons for the Canucks. In six of those seasons, he spent over 200 minutes in the penalty box. Twice, he spent over 300 minutes there.

In the 1997–98 season, Gino was traded to the New York Islanders. He played there until 2000, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2001, he moved to the Montreal Canadiens. His last NHL season was with Montreal in 2001–02.

Gino missed most of the 2002–03 season. He got a concussion from a puck hitting his head during practice. He retired from professional hockey after that. His last organized hockey was in 2005. He played for the Horse Lake Thunder team, which included other former NHL players.

Life After Hockey

In 2003, Gino Odjick moved back to Vancouver. He worked with the Musqueam First Nation to manage a golf academy.

In 2014, Gino appeared in a short Canadian film. It was called Ronny Nomad and the Legendary Napkins of Wood. The film won an award for best comedic short.

On June 26, 2014, Gino shared that he had a rare and serious illness called AL amyloidosis. This condition caused abnormal proteins to build up in his heart, making it stiff. He later had a heart attack because of this. In 2015, he received the Indspire Award for sports. Doctors thought he only had a few months to live. But Gino tried an experimental treatment. Three years later, his heart was working much better.

Gino Odjick died from a heart attack on January 15, 2023. He was 52 years old. His parents, Joe and Giselle, had passed away before him. Gino had eight children and five sisters.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs