Bep Guidolin

Armand "Bep" Guidolin (December 9, 1925 – November 24, 2008) was a Canadian National Hockey League player. He was born in Thorold, Ontario. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children. His family moved to Timmins

Bep Guidolin
Born (1925-12-09)December 9, 1925
Thorold, Ontario, Canada
Died November 24, 2008(2008-11-24) (aged 82)
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Left
Played for Chicago Black Hawks
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Playing career 19421952

Guidolin stood 5'8" at 175 lbs, and was left shooting left winger in the NHL. He later went on to 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". He is the cousin of fellow NHL player and coach Aldo Guidolin.[1]

Early life

Guidolin and his family moved to Timmins when he was young. It was there that he learned how to skate at the age of 13. His abilities excelled through practicing on local outdoor rinks. When the NHL lost many of their talented players to the second world war, Guidolin talents caught the eyes of pro scouts as being a viable replacement option.

Playing career

Guidolin played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals 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 supporter 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 McFarlands, winning the Allan Cup in 1958, and the World Championship in 1959. In 1965 he became the coach of his 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 final 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. It was a dream for Armand "Bep" Guidolin to coach in the NHL. That dream became a reality as he got the opportunity to coach the Boston Bruins and a huge accomplishment is that of which he lead the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in the NHL season of 1973-1974 (Legree, 2018). Coached the Timmins Northstars of the Northland Intermediate Hockey League which went on to the Hardy Cup Finals for the All Canadians.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1941–42 Oshawa Generals OHA Jr 214131738 1103322
1941–42 Oshawa Generals M-Cup 11551056
1942–43 Boston Bruins NHL 427152253 904412
1943–44 Boston Bruins NHL 4717254258
1944–45 Newmarket Navy TNDHL 711122318 8981723
1944–45 Toronto Army Shamrocks TIHL 1813102361 322410
1944–45 Toronto Army Daggers OHA Sr 21120
1945–46 Boston Bruins NHL 5015173262 1052713
1946–47 Boston Bruins NHL 5610132373 30116
1947–48 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5812102278 20004
1948–49 Detroit Red Wings NHL 40000
1948–49 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 5641721116
1949–50 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 7017345142
1950–51 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6912223456
1951–52 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6713183178
1952–53 Syracuse Warriors AHL 2318924 30008
1952–53 Ottawa Senators QSHL 439243354
1953–54 Ottawa Senators QHL 71183856148
1954–55 Ottawa Senators QHL 195121777
1954–55 North Bay Trappers NOHA 208122040 1326836
1955–56 Val d'Or Miners QUE Sr
1955–56 North Bay Trappers NOHA 11232
1956–57 Bellville McFarlands OHA Sr 48162945156
1957–58 Windsor Bulldogs OHASr 726824
1957–58 Bellville McFarlands OHA Sr 3512183060
1958–59 Kingston Merchants EAOHL 4311263762 1204424
1960–61 Omaha Knights IHL 6414334762
NHL totals 519107171278616 24571235

Coaching statistics

NHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsDivision RankResult
Boston Bruins1972–73 262060(40)2nd in EastLost in Quarter-Finals
Boston Bruins1973–74 78521791131st in EastLost in Cup Finals
Kansas City Scouts1974–75 80155411415th in Smythemissed playoffs
Kansas City Scouts1975–76 4511304(26)5th in Smythe(fired)
Total2299810724220

WHA

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsDivision RankResult
Edmonton Oilers1976–77 6325362(72)4th in West(fired)
Total632536272

WOJBHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsPctResult
Windsor Spitfires1964-65 4011272240.300 Out of playoffs
Total4027224

OHA

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsPctResult
Oshawa Generals1965-66 4822188520.542Won J. Ross Robertson Cup
London Knights1969-70 5422257510.472Lost in round 2
London Knights1970-71 6219358460.371Lost in round 1
Total164637823149

AHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsPctResult
Boston Braves1971–72 76412114960.632Lost in round 2
Philadelphia Firebirds1978-79 8023498540.338Out of Playoffs
Total156647322150

OHL

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsDivision RankResult
Brantford Alexanders1981-82 6825412525th in EmmsLost in quarter-finals
Total682541252

OHASr

TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsPctResult
Barrie Broncos1983-84

References

  1. Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley (2003). Who's who in Hockey. ISBN 9780740719042.
Preceded by
Bill Hunter
General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers
1976–77
Succeeded by
Brian Conacher
Preceded by
Tom Johnson
Head coach of the Boston Bruins
197274
Succeeded by
Don Cherry
Preceded by
Position created
Head coach of the Kansas City Scouts
197475
Succeeded by
Sid Abel
Preceded by
Clare Drake
Head coach of the Edmonton Oilers
1976–77
Succeeded by
Glen Sather
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