Bep Guidolin
Encyclopedia
Armand "Bep" Guidolin was a Canadian
National Hockey League
player. He was born in Thorold
, Ontario
. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children.
Guidolin stood 5'8" at 175 lbs, and was left shooting left winger in the NHL. He later went onto a coaching career. He was nicknamed "Bep" because his mother spoke Italian and very little English. Armand was the baby of the family and his mother pronounced baby as "beppy". The nickname stuck and was shortened to "Bep".
of the OHA, playing in the Memorial Cup
in 1942. Later that year he became the youngest player (16 years, 11 months) to play in an NHL game, on November 12, 1942.
His quick rise to the NHL was a direct result of World War II
. The Boston Bruins
were in dire need of replacements to fill the roster holes created by so many players leaving for military service. In 1944, his eligibility for military service brought a one-year break from his NHL career.
Guidolin also played for the Detroit Red Wings
and the Chicago Black Hawks
. Armand was an ardent support for the formation of a players' union, which led to an early demise to his NHL career in 1952. He played for nine years in the minors, then retired to a coaching career.
, winning the Allan Cup
in 1958, and the World Championship
in 1959. In 1965 he became the coach of this former junior team the Oshawa Generals, featuring 17 year old future Hockey Hall of Fame
defenceman Bobby Orr
. He led the Generals to the Memorial Cup finals in 1966 versus the Edmonton Oil Kings. Guidolin later coached the London Knights
of the OHL, Boston Bruins
and the Kansas City Scouts
of the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers
of the World Hockey Association
, and the Boston Braves
and Philadelphia Firebirds of the American Hockey League
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player. He was born in Thorold
Thorold
Thorold may refer to:Places* Thorold, Ontario* Thorold Tunnel, OntarioSport* Thorold Blackhawks, Canadian junior ice hockey teamAnimals*Thorold's deerPeople...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children.
Guidolin stood 5'8" at 175 lbs, and was left shooting left winger in the NHL. He later went onto a coaching career. He was nicknamed "Bep" because his mother spoke Italian and very little English. Armand was the baby of the family and his mother pronounced baby as "beppy". The nickname stuck and was shortened to "Bep".
Playing career
Guidolin played junior hockey with the Oshawa GeneralsOshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
of the OHA, playing in the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
in 1942. Later that year he became the youngest player (16 years, 11 months) to play in an NHL game, on November 12, 1942.
His quick rise to the NHL was a direct result of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
were in dire need of replacements to fill the roster holes created by so many players leaving for military service. In 1944, his eligibility for military service brought a one-year break from his NHL career.
Guidolin also played for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. Armand was an ardent support for the formation of a players' union, which led to an early demise to his NHL career in 1952. He played for nine years in the minors, then retired to a coaching career.
Coaching career
Guidolin coached the Belleville McFarlandsBelleville McFarlands
The Belleville McFarlands were a men's senior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association Senior division from 1956 to 1961. The McFarlands were based out of Belleville, Ontario, playing home games at the Belleville Memorial Arena....
, winning the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
in 1958, and the World Championship
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
in 1959. In 1965 he became the coach of this former junior team the Oshawa Generals, featuring 17 year old future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
defenceman Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
. He led the Generals to the Memorial Cup finals in 1966 versus the Edmonton Oil Kings. Guidolin later coached the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
of the OHL, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and the Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
of the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
, and the Boston Braves
Boston Braves (AHL)
The Boston Braves were a professional ice hockey team in Boston, Massachusetts. They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1971 to 1974....
and Philadelphia Firebirds of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1942-43 Boston Bruins NHL 42 7 15 22 53 9 0 4 4 12
1943-44 Boston Bruins NHL 47 17 25 42 58 -- -- -- -- --
1945-46 Boston Bruins NHL 50 15 17 32 62 10 5 2 7 13
1946-47 Boston Bruins NHL 56 10 13 23 73 3 0 1 1 6
1947-48 Detroit Red Wings NHL 58 12 10 22 78 2 0 0 0 4
1948-49 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1948-49 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 56 4 17 21 116 -- -- -- -- --
1949-50 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 17 34 51 42 -- -- -- -- --
1950-51 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 69 12 22 34 56 -- -- -- -- --
1951-52 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 67 13 18 31 78 -- -- -- -- --
1952-53 Syracuse Warriors AHL 23 1 8 9 24 3 0 0 0 8
1952-53 Ottawa Senators QSHL 43 9 24 33 54 -- -- -- -- --
1953-54 Ottawa Senators QHL 71 18 38 56 148 -- -- -- -- --
1954-55 Ottawa Senators QHL 19 5 12 17 77 -- -- -- -- --
1954-55 North Bay Trappers NOHA 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1956-57 Belleville McFarlands OHASr 0 16 29 45 156 -- -- -- -- --
1957-58 Windsor Bulldogs OHASr 7 2 6 8 24 -- -- -- -- --
1957-58 Belleville McFarlands OHASr 0 12 18 30 60 -- -- -- -- --
1958-59 Kingston Merchants OHASr 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1960-61 Omaha-Indianapolis IHL 64 14 33 47 63 -- -- -- -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL Totals 519 107 171 278 616 24 5 7 12 35
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct Result
1964-65 Windsor Spitfires OHA-B Head Coach
1965-66 Oshawa Generals OHA Head Coach 48 22 18 8 0 0.542
1969-70 London Knights OHA Head Coach 54 22 25 7 0 0.472
1970-71 London Knights OHA Head Coach 62 19 35 8 0 0.371
1971-72 Boston Braves AHL Head Coach 76 41 21 14 0 0.632 Lost in round 2
1972-73 Boston Bruins NHL Head Coach --------Replaced Mid-Season--------
1973-74 Boston Bruins NHL Head Coach 78 52 17 9 0 0.724 Lost in Finals
1976-77 Edmonton Oilers WHA Head Coach 81 34 43 4 0 0.444 Lost in round 1
1978-79 Philadelphia Firebirds AHL Head Coach 80 23 49 8 0 0.338 Out of Playoffs
1978-79 Colorado Rockies NHL Head Coach --------Replaced Mid-Season--------
1981-82 Brantford Alexanders OHL Head Coach --------Replaced Mid-Season--------