Former Montreal Canadiens player Gino Odjick has died of a heart attack.
This is what his sister Dina indicated on Sunday.
“Our hearts are broken. My brother Gino Odjick has left us for the spirit world,” the woman wrote on her Twitter account.
The 52-year-old breathed his last in Vancouver, the city where he had lived for many years.
Odjick has also played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Canucks.
He was a fifth-round pick of that organization in the 1990 draft and worked for that team until March 1998.
He then played for the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and CH. Odjick played his last 49 NHL games with the Canadiens, over two seasons. [2000-2001 et 2001-2002].
“Canadians are saddened to learn of the passing of Gino Odjick. The organization wishes to offer its deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Thank you for all the beautiful memories, Gino,” wrote the Habs on his Twitter account.
Recognized for his talents as a pugilist, the native of Maniwaki has suffered 2,567 penalty minutes in 605 career games. This places him in 17th place in the history of the Bettman circuit in this regard. He also hit the target 64 times and provided 73 assists for 137 points.
For several years, Odjick suffered from AL cardiac amyloidosis.
It is a rare hematological disease, where the white blood cells produce an excess of antibodies.
Canucks doctors had also condemned him when he received his diagnosis in 2014.
An experimental treatment undergone by the Ottawa Hospital, combining chemotherapy and drugs, had finally allowed the former tough guy to recover his health.
In 2020, Odjick told the newspaper “Le Droit” that he was starting the same treatment again and that he would be undergoing chemotherapy treatments for the next six months.
Much appreciated by supporters of the Canadian and the Canucks, Odjick was greeted by hundreds of Internet users on social networks. The British Columbia club also mentioned it in a press release.
“Gino was a fan favorite from his earliest days with the organization. He put his heart and soul into everything he did on and off the ice, Canucks president Francesco Aquilini said. He inspired many and embodied what it was like to be a Canuck. Personally, he was a close friend and confidant. He was someone I could lean on for advice and support.”