Gino Cavallini
Encyclopedia
Gino J. Cavallini is a retired Canadian ice hockey
forward
.
Cavallini played one year for the St. Michael's Buzzers
, a Junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association
(now part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
.) Following his short stint with the Buzzers, Cavallini was offered a scholarship to play college hockey
for the Bowling Green State University
Falcons
. He remained with the Falcons for two years (1982-1984). He is noted for scoring the game winning goal in the 1984 NCAA Championship
game, 7:11 into the fourth overtime. At 97 minutes and 11 seconds, it stands today as one of the longest games in Division I hockey history.
Following his two seasons at Bowling Green, the Calgary Flames
signed Cavallini as a free agent
during the 1984–85 season. He would go on to score six goals in 27 games that season.
Cavallini played parts of two seasons with the Flames, alternating between the NHL
and minor AHL
team, the Moncton Golden Flames
. Following his second professional season, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues as part of a multi-player deal (Cavallini, Ed Beers
and Charlie Bourgeois
for Joey Mullen, Terry Johnson
and Rik Wilson
). While with the Blues, Cavallini served dutifully as the Alternate Captain to Brian Sutter
. As part of the Ron Caron
-managed franchise from 1986-1992, Cavallini helped provide leadership, enthusiasm and disciplined strength on the ice. During those seasons, the Blues re-established themselves as a competitive force in the Norris Division
making the playoffs each year. During his playing seasons with the Blues, Gino's brother, defenceman
Paul Cavallini
also joined the squad.
Referred locally as "The Tank", Cavallini's grit on the ice was evident throughout his NHL seasons with Calgary (54 games), St. Louis (454 games) and later with the Quebec Nordiques
(85 games). In total he played 593 regular season games, scoring 114 goals and 159 assists for 273 points and collecting 507 penalty minutes. He also played in 74 playoff games, scoring 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points and collecting 66 penalty minutes. From 1986–1990, Cavallini had his best NHL seasons, recording more than 30 points per season and scoring 20 goals in the 1988–89 season.
He left the NHL after the 1993 season where he spent 3 seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals
of the International Hockey League. His commitment to the game helped solidify Cavallini as a leader for the Admirals with impressive stats scoring 139 goals and 248 points in 3 seasons. He then completed his career in Europe
, playing primarily in Germany
with EV Landshut
and Austria
with EC Villacher
before retiring in the 2000–01 season.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
.
Cavallini played one year for the St. Michael's Buzzers
St. Michael's Buzzers
The St. Michael's Buzzers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of Central Canadian Hockey League.-History:...
, a Junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(now part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Ontario Hockey Association and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The league dates back to 1954 as the Central Junior B Hockey League. In 1993, the Central Junior B Hockey League was promoted to the...
.) Following his short stint with the Buzzers, Cavallini was offered a scholarship to play college hockey
College hockey
College hockey refers to ice hockey played between colleges with their teams composed of enrolled students. College hockey is played in Canada and the United States, though leagues outside of North America exist....
for the Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
Falcons
Bowling Green Falcons
The Bowling Green Falcons are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Bowling Green State University, located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons participate in NCAA Division I in the Mid-American Conference and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. BGSU is one of only 13 universities in the...
. He remained with the Falcons for two years (1982-1984). He is noted for scoring the game winning goal in the 1984 NCAA Championship
1984 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament
The 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the culmination of the 1983–84 season in men's ice hockey for teams in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Bowling Green Falcons defeated the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in the championship game, held in Lake...
game, 7:11 into the fourth overtime. At 97 minutes and 11 seconds, it stands today as one of the longest games in Division I hockey history.
Following his two seasons at Bowling Green, the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
signed Cavallini as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
during the 1984–85 season. He would go on to score six goals in 27 games that season.
Cavallini played parts of two seasons with the Flames, alternating between the NHL
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...
and minor AHL
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...
team, the Moncton Golden Flames
Moncton Golden Flames
The Moncton Golden Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick, playing home games at the Moncton Coliseum. The team operated in the American Hockey League between 1984 and 1987, as a minor league affiliate of the Calgary Flames and the Boston Bruins...
. Following his second professional season, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues as part of a multi-player deal (Cavallini, Ed Beers
Ed Beers
Edward Joseph "Eddy" Beers is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 250 games in the National Hockey League. He was nearly a point per game player in his time in the NHL, but his NHL career was cut short by injury....
and Charlie Bourgeois
Charlie Bourgeois
Charles Marc "Boo-Boo" Bourgeois is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played 290 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Hartford Whalers....
for Joey Mullen, Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson (ice hockey)
Terry Johnson is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 285 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Quebec Nordiques, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, and Toronto Maple Leafs....
and Rik Wilson
Rik Wilson
Richard William Wilson is a retired American professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
). While with the Blues, Cavallini served dutifully as the Alternate Captain to Brian Sutter
Brian Sutter
Brian Louis Allen Sutter is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward and former head coach in the National Hockey League . Brian is the second oldest of the famous Sutter brothers, six of whom have played in the NHL, and is the only one to have his number retired by an NHL team.-Player: Sutter was...
. As part of the Ron Caron
Ron Caron
Ronald "Ron" Caron is a Canadian former executive in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues.-Hockey career:...
-managed franchise from 1986-1992, Cavallini helped provide leadership, enthusiasm and disciplined strength on the ice. During those seasons, the Blues re-established themselves as a competitive force in the Norris Division
Norris Division
The NHL's Norris Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division moved to the Clarence Campbell Conference in 1981, with the Detroit Red Wings being the only member to remain from the previous season. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. The...
making the playoffs each year. During his playing seasons with the Blues, Gino's brother, defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
Paul Cavallini
Paul Cavallini
Paul Edward "Wally" Cavallini is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman. He is the younger brother of former player Gino Cavallini, who was his teammate for several years with the St. Louis Blues....
also joined the squad.
Referred locally as "The Tank", Cavallini's grit on the ice was evident throughout his NHL seasons with Calgary (54 games), St. Louis (454 games) and later with the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
(85 games). In total he played 593 regular season games, scoring 114 goals and 159 assists for 273 points and collecting 507 penalty minutes. He also played in 74 playoff games, scoring 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points and collecting 66 penalty minutes. From 1986–1990, Cavallini had his best NHL seasons, recording more than 30 points per season and scoring 20 goals in the 1988–89 season.
He left the NHL after the 1993 season where he spent 3 seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
of the International Hockey League. His commitment to the game helped solidify Cavallini as a leader for the Admirals with impressive stats scoring 139 goals and 248 points in 3 seasons. He then completed his career in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, playing primarily in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with EV Landshut
Landshut Cannibals
The Landshut Cannibals are a professional ice hockey team based in Landshut, Bavaria. Currently they are members of the 2nd Bundesliga. The team was founded in 1948 as Eislaufverein Landshut , but since 2002 the professional team is organised as “Landshut Cannibals”. The EVL is still responsible...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
with EC Villacher
VSV EC
EC Villacher SV are an ice hockey team in the Erste Bank Hockey League. They play their home games at Stadthalle in Villach, Austria. In Season 2010/11, the club is officially playing as EC Rekord-Fenster VSV.-Honours:*Austrian Championships:...
before retiring in the 2000–01 season.