A hard-nosed forward, Odjick was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round (No. 86) of the 1990 NHL Draft. During his eight seasons with the Canucks, Odjick instantly became a popular player because of his physical style and ability to stand up for his teammates, which included Pavel Bure, who had often described Odjick as one of his best friends.
"Gino was a fan favorite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice," Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini said. "He inspired many and embodied what it means to be a Canuck. Personally, he was a close friend and confidant, someone I could count on for advice and support. He will be deeply missed."
Odjick had 137 points (64 goals, 73 assists) and 2,567 penalty minutes in 605 regular-season games for the Canucks, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens from 1990-2002. He also had five points (four goals, one assist) in 44 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"He was a very special individual on the ice," said Stan Smyl, who played with Odjick and is now the Canucks vice president of hockey operations. "But off ice he was one of the kindest human beings that I've met and played with.
"The role he was as a player is one of the hardest roles in hockey, and he handled it very well. You have to be the tough guy and support your teammates, and he was always there for that, and he also knew when things weren't going right on the ice or the team wasn't playing quite up to their caliber that he can go out and stir it up and get the players excited, get them involved in a game, and I guess the best way of saying it, he could bring the team into a fight just by being Gino."
Odjick's death comes less than nine years after he announced June 26, 2014, that he had been diagnosed with AL amyloidosis, a rare terminal disease that produces abnormal protein deposits in the heart.
At the time of the diagnosis, Odjick said that doctors weren't sure how long he had to live but warned him that it could be "months or even weeks."
"I feel very fortunate for my life," Odjick said in a letter at the time. "During my career, I played in some great NHL cities, including Vancouver, Long Island, Philadelphia and Montreal. In my heart, I will always be a Canuck and I have always had a special relationship here with the fans. Your 'Gino, Gino' cheers were my favorite. I wish I could hear them again. You have been amazing."
Odjick, who was raised in Kitigan Zibi First Nation, a small reserve near Maniwaki, Quebec, also wrote in his letter about the importance of being a role model to the Indigenous community. In 2015, he received a Sports Award from Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inui and Metis people.
"Everybody knew who Gino Odjick was growing up," said Canucks defenseman Ethan Bear, a member of the Ochapowace Nation. "He was definitely one of the first Indigenous players to make a trail for the rest of us. Whenever you lose a legend like that, someone who is obviously a big influence in the native community, it's tough.
"He would always message me and stuff like that. If I was playing well, if I needed to step it up, he was always there to give some little advice. This league is as hard as it is, and every day you try to get better. But some days are harder than others. It's always nice to have someone you can look up to who has been through it as well to support you. Definitely going to miss him."
NHL.com independent correspondent Kurt Dusterberg contributed to this report
