One of the most popular players to suit up for the Vancouver Canucks has passed away.
Wayne “Gino” Odjick, who played 12 seasons in the NHL for the Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens, died at the age of 52.
Odjick spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Canucks after being selected by them in the 1990 entry draft, before being traded to the New York Islanders for Jason Strudwick in March 1998.
In 2014, Odjick was diagnosed with Amyloidosis — a disease he says attacked his organs and his heart.
Speaking on his passing, Ethan Bear noted in a video interview posted by the Vancouver Canucks: “”I heard I scored right after he (Gino Odjick) passed. I think that is pretty powerful. It was meant to be, maybe he was there for me on that shot.”
The former enforcer had 64 goals and 73 assists in 605 NHL games. Odjick was a key member of the 1994 Canucks Stanley Cup finalist team, playing 10 games in the playoffs for the team that lost a physical seven-game series to the New York Rangers.
Odjick also did a lot of community work and remains a holder of a Canucks team record, with 2,127 penalty minutes being the most in franchise history.
