{"product_id":"gino-the-fighting-spirit-of-gino-odjick-hardcover","title":"Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003ePatrick Johnston\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003ePeter Leech\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom veteran hockey reporter Patrick Johnston and Gino's longtime friend Peter Leech comes the authorized biography of Gino Odjick.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the 1980s and '90s, National Hockey League games were very different from the nimble, skill-focused displays we see today. One of the greatest differences--and one of the sport's more popular facets at the time--was the widespread presence of \"enforcers\" hulking, battle-scarred players whose main task was to police the sport by chasing down and brawling with opponents who had broken unwritten codes determining which aspects of violence counted as dishonorable or unjustified. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen hard-hitting Vancouver Canucks player Gino Odjick emerged in the early 1990s, he quickly became one of the game's most feared enforcers and revered teammates, a sign of a new era for the team, racking up 296 penalty minutes in the 45 games he played in his rookie season. Hailing from Kitigan Zibi, an Algonquin community near Maniwaki, Quebec, Gino was one of the few Indigenous players in the NHL at the time. But it was Gino's ferocious play contrasted by his genuinely affable and openhearted personality off the ice that won him a special place in the hearts of Canucks supporters. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eYet legends often obscure the human stories behind them. Patrick Johnston and Peter Leech look beyond Gino's legendary persona, drawing on insights from family members, friends, and teammates to recount Gino's early years in a loving household that was always ready to welcome foster children. Gino's father, Joe, had suffered the lonely traumas of the residential school system, and the experience had instilled a commitment in the family to those who were less fortunate. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe book also details Gino's eventual struggles with alcohol abuse, and how he responded by taking on the role of empathetic mentor to young Indigenous people, travelling from community to community to hear their stories and offer hope. He never wavered in this role, even as he confronted serious illnesses, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the rare blood disorder that he survived for years longer than expected, but that eventually led to his death at age fifty-two. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eGino\u003c\/i\u003e is a moving tribute to a beloved hockey legend. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePatrick Johnston\u003c\/b\u003e is a sports journalist with the \u003ci\u003eProvince\u003c\/i\u003e daily newspaper in Vancouver, BC. He specializes in hockey reporting and analysis. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeter Leech\u003c\/b\u003e is a former professional hockey player and member of the T'it'q'et Community Village of the St'at'imc Tribal Nation who specializes in working with First Nations communities and organizations, public and private sector companies, individuals, teams, and young adults (i.e., youth) in all aspects of life. His athletic accomplishments include a stint with the East Coast and Central Hockey Leagues. He also won a gold medal in boxing at the North American Amateurs. Peter's athletic talents extended to soccer, where he played semi-pro soccer and worked in developing professional athletes both on and off the playing field. Peter is also a very proud and loving husband and father of three. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.1 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 07, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52524974244147,"sku":"9781778402708","price":36.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0300\/5595\/6612\/files\/k3CIo7XJp69781778402708.webp?v=1760601266","url":"https:\/\/www.vysn.com\/products\/gino-the-fighting-spirit-of-gino-odjick-hardcover","provider":"VYSN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}