Gino Odjick, Canuck and Local Legend, Dies at 53

Photo Credit: Getty Images via CTV News

Former Vancouver Canucks player and legend Wayne "Gino" Odjick passed away on Jan. 15 from a heart attack. 

Odjick was a role model to many First Nations peoples, as he kept trying through the struggles of being an Indigenous hockey player, and inspired youth to receive a good education.

In 2014, he was diagnosed with a rare disease called amyloidosis, which is caused by the amyloid protein pooling up in the organs. After his initial diagnosis, Odjick wrote a public letter to the Canucks and the fans informing everyone about his disease. The letter stated that he originally thought that he would have a few more years to live, but the doctors told him he had closer to a few months or weeks.

Odjick played 12 seasons in the NHL, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and New York Islanders. In his 605 NHL games, Odjick had 64 goals along with 73 assists. Odjick also had 2,127 penalty minutes, the most in the Canucks' history.

Odjick was born in an Algonquin reserve just outside of Maniwaki, a town in Quebec, on Sept. 7, 1970. 

When Odjick had an assist or goal, the fans would often cheer, “Gino, Gino”. In his letter to his fans, Odjick wrote, “Your 'Gino, Gino' cheers were my favourite. I wish I could hear them again. You have been amazing.” He also wrote, “In my heart, I will always be a Canuck and I have always had a special relationship here with the fans.”