Gino Odjick Passes Away at 52 Years Old

Gino Odjick played 605 NHL games, including eight seasons in Vancouver. His sister announced his death on Sunday.

Chris Relke/HHOF Images

Gino Odjick has died at 52 years old, his sister announced on Sunday.

Odjick was a fan-favorite enforcer in the NHL, having played 605 games in 12 seasons, including eight seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and four seasons between the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens.

“Our hearts are broken,” Dina Odjick said on Facebook. “My brother Gino Odjick has left us for the spirit world.”

Odjick grew up on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation reserve near Maniwaki, Que. He was given the Indspire Award in 2015, the highest honor given to an individual by the Indigenous community in Canada, for his playing career and all his contributions to Indigenous communities. He was also inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Vancouver Canucks drafted Odjick in the fifth round at 86th overall in the 1990 NHL draft. He holds the club record for most penalty minutes as one of the toughest players out there who stood up for his teammates, with 2,127. 

The team confirmed Odjick’s death and said it and the Aquillini family mourn his tragic passing.

“Gino was a fan-favorite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice,” said Canucks chairman and governor Franceso Aquillini in a statement. “Personally, he was a close friend and confidant, someone I could lean on for advice and support. He will be deeply missed.”

The cause of death was not announced. 

Odjick was previously diagnosed with AL Amyloidosis, a rare, terminal form of heart disease, in 2014. Despite being initially told by doctors he could have had just months or weeks to live, he lived for more than eight years longer.

Canucks defenseman Ethan Bear said he’s very sad to hear of Odjick’s passing after Vancouver played the Carolina Hurricanes Sunday night. He said the two had a conversation when Bear was still a member of the Hurricanes at the beginning of the season and was linked to Vancouver in trade rumors.

“Gino was there for me when Carolina came to town, and we talked,” Bear said after Vancouver beat the Hurricanes 4-3.

“He was definitely one of the first Indigenous players to make a trail for the rest of us,” Bear added. “Whenever you lose a legend like that, and someone’s who honestly a big influence in the Native community, it’s tough.”

Bear, who’s from the Ochapowace Nation in Saskatchewan, scored for the Canucks during the second period of Sunday night’s game.

“I heard I scored right after he passed, so I think that’s pretty powerful. It was meant to be, maybe he was there for me on that shot.”