Paul Stewart: On Gino Odjick and the Honest Tough Guy

"It saddens me that the game of hockey is being pacified by the lawyers and coat-holders to stamp out the guys like Gino but they pay little more than lip service to the dealing with the Matt Cooke types of players that are really a menace to others' safety"

Dead on. Always look forward to your blogs especially when talking about enforcers. I was pumped when the Isles traded for Gino. Remember it like it was yesterday. They traded Strudwick for Gino I believe the day of the game and they basically just switched locker rooms that day and both dressed that night. I also remember Gino's quote where he said He always thought he would get traded for somebody he heard of

Thank you Paul.

Any awareness brought to mental issues suffered through concussions is very needed. Times are slightly easier today compared to the lobotomy days, but these injury related mental injuries won't go away until better safety measures are taken. Nice article.

Thank you for posting this Paul. Gino is truly one the leagues honest, tough guys. I admire him for his courage, tenacity and dedication to hockey.

That must be your 10th awesome blog in a row Mr. Stewart. I'm a fan.

Any awareness brought to mental issues suffered through concussions is very needed. Times are slightly easier today compared to the lobotomy days, but these injury related mental injuries won't go away until better safety measures are taken. Nice article.
- Topshelf Mountain

You understand that Gino is not dying from concussion related issues, right? He has a rare protein disorder that is causing his own body to harden his heart.

That is not to say your argument about concussions is not valid in almost every other case, and if we had enough time, we may have seen that in Gino as well.

"It saddens me that the game of hockey is being pacified by the lawyers and coat-holders to stamp out the guys like Gino but they pay little more than lip service to the dealing with the Matt Cooke types of players that are really a menace to others' safety"

Dead on. Always look forward to your blogs especially when talking about enforcers. I was pumped when the Isles traded for Gino. Remember it like it was yesterday. They traded Strudwick for Gino I believe the day of the game and they basically just switched locker rooms that day and both dressed that night. I also remember Gino's quote where he said He always thought he would get traded for somebody he heard of
- Vukota

They also scrapped each other that same night for their new teams......

You understand that Gino is not dying from concussion related issues, right? He has a rare protein disorder that is causing his own body to harden his heart.

That is not to say your argument about concussions is not valid in almost every other case, and if we had enough time, we may have seen that in Gino as well.
- Beatle_john

Well said!

They also scrapped each other that same night for their new teams......
- chompsey

Yes they did Strudwick heard Gino's comment about thinking he would be traded for somebody he heard of so Strudwick said he figured he would introduce himself I remember hearing that from strudwick during an intermission interview