Gino Cavallini

Gino Cavallini
Born	(1962-11-24) November 24, 1962 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Calgary Flames St. Louis Blues Quebec Nordiques EV Landshut HC Bolzano Villacher SV
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1984–2000

Gino J. Cavallini (born November 24, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Quebec Nordiques between 1985 and 1993. He is the brother of the NHL hockey player Paul Cavallini.

Playing career

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 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, Cavallini's brother, defenseman Paul also joined the squad.

Referred to 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.

Cavallini left the NHL after the 1993 season, spending 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.

Personal life

Cavallini's son, Aidan, played hockey at the University of Wisconsin. Aidan is married to goaltender Alex Cavallini.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1979–80	Oak Ridges Dynes	COJHL		43	23	24	47	102		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Oak Ridges Dynes	COJHL		37	27	56	83	42		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Aurora Tigers	OPJAHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	St. Michael's Buzzers	MetJBHL		33	22	33	55	50		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Bowling Green State University	CCHA		40	8	16	24	52		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Bowling Green State University	CCHA		43	25	23	48	16		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Calgary Flames	NHL		27	6	10	16	14		3	0	0	0	4
1984–85	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL		51	29	19	48	28		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Calgary Flames	NHL		27	7	7	14	26		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL		4	3	2	5	7		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	St. Louis Blues	NHL		30	6	5	11	36		17	4	5	9	10
1986–87	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	18	26	44	54		6	3	1	4	2
1987–88	St. Louis Blues	NHL		64	15	17	32	62		10	5	5	10	19
1988–89	St. Louis Blues	NHL		74	20	23	43	79		9	0	2	2	17
1989–90	St. Louis Blues	NHL		80	15	15	30	77		12	1	3	4	2
1990–91	St. Louis Blues	NHL		78	8	27	35	81		13	1	3	4	2
1991–92	St. Louis Blues	NHL		48	9	7	16	40		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		18	1	7	8	4		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		67	9	15	24	34		4	0	0	0	0
1993–94	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		78	43	35	78	64		4	3	4	7	6
1994–95	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		80	53	35	88	54		15	7	2	9	10
1995–96	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL		82	43	39	82	20		5	3	1	4	2
1996–97	EV Landshut	DEL		48	25	29	54	32		7	3	2	5	4
1996–97	HC Bolzano	ITA		—	—	—	—	—		3	2	1	3	0
1997–98	EV Landshut	DEL		48	12	18	30	30		6	1	5	6	25
1998–99	Villacher SV	AUT		56	42	51	93	42		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Villacher SV	IEL		32	25	38	63	6		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Villacher SV	AUT		15	13	16	29	8		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	EHC Biel	NLB		40	33	38	71	30		11	7	7	14	6
NHL totals				593	114	159	273	507		74	14	19	33	56

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database