Would you support getting Gino's 29 retired or putting him in the Ring of Honour?

[Gollumpus]

Just to preface this, I did search for a similar topic already but couldn't find anything. If there is one I missed, I'll throw this in there instead.

I'll be completely honest, I never saw Gino Odjick play a game. I wasn't a hockey fan until years after he had hung up his skates. But when they retired Bure's jersey last season, I couldn't help but wonder who he was. So, I started doing some digging. I read up on him and his career and watched as many YouTube clips of Gino I could find. The more I watched, the more I found myself liking the guy.

Like many of you, I was extremely dismayed to learn of his battle with AL amyloidosis. Considering he may not have very long left with us, I think it would be amazing if the Canucks were to retire his jersey or put him in the Ring of Honour next season. Because if you can make a fan out of someone who never saw you play, I think it means you made your mark on the city, the sport and its fans.

What do you all think?

P.S. I'll just leave you with this clip of Gino trying to fight every Blue on the ice.

I'm okay with RoH. At the very least take the number out of circulation.

Certainly the league has changed a bit since he played, but Gino is a heart and soul type of guy, and we could use some more of that on this team.

regards,

G.

[-DLC-]

To be honest, I've got him in my ring of honour already.

I did get to see Gino play. And I had the great fortune of meeting him.

I can tell you that his current state has stuck with me...since I saw him wheeled out to greet fans, I've kept him in my thoughts every day. I walk every night by the river and most nights I think of how lucky I am to have that opportunity...to breathe the fresh air and take in the summer sun. Gino has reminded me not to take these things for granted...to appreciate the life I have, even if it gets tough at times.

I very much think the stop and smell the roses stuff gets lost in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. We road rage, hurry to work, communicate more electronically than we tend to do face to face. Gino's situation has not been taken lightly by me...I carry it with me as a reminder to live life to the fullest because at any given time, any of us could be struck down with something unexpected.

Anyhow, I've wandered off topic but truly have been processing this whole deal with Gino. Seems so unfair - a robust individual who's been confined to being wheeled in/out of a hospital room. The boost that he got from fans being there was nothing compared to the boost he's given me. I shall not forget, by way of Gino, to live life to the fullest...even if it means by my standards and slowing things down a bit.

I'd fully support any effort to recognize Gino...he's been devoted, heart and soul to this city. So why not?

[SlickCanuck]

Maybe dedicate the next telethon to him and have one or more of our local artists paint something on the walls between our dressing-room and the ice. His image and strength to help inspire his team.

[FlyLow_]

Of course he should be honored in some way, and I think it would not be hard to find an original and meaningful way to do so. But... I already don't like that we are retiring guys numbers that have never won anything. I believe to have your number retired you should at minimum be in the HHOF.

There needs to be a very high standard for these type of things. Again, that's not to say there shouldn't be a very meaningful way to honor guys like Gino, Naslund, smyl, Linden. I just don't believe they should have numbers retired.

[Rex425]

Would support him going into Ring of honour. I wouldn't be against him being on anything that gets him honored, but don't think he deserves a jersey retirement. Maybe a unofficial Jersey retirement like some has said.

[Pavel_Burrows]

ROH

[R3aL]

ROH would be classy, he was a fan favorite afterall

[Gollumpus]

Of course he should be honored in some way, and I think it would not be hard to find an original and meaningful way to do so. But... I already don't like that we are retiring guys numbers that have never won anything. I believe to have your number retired you should at minimum be in the HHOF.

There needs to be a very high standard for these type of things. Again, that's not to say there shouldn't be a very meaningful way to honor guys like Gino, Naslund, smyl, Linden. I just don't believe they should have numbers retired.

I get where you're coming from, however, if you look through pretty much every team(?) in the NHL there are numbers retired which were worn by players like a Smyl, Linden, Naslund or even Odjick. And it's also kind of interesting to see the number of guys who never won a Cup with their number retired by their team.

The Canucks aren't any different than other teams who might choose to honour players who were significant to their franchise during a particular era, and for reasons more than just personal points or overall team success.

regards,

G.

[EliasSkywalker]

Retire jersey - No

Ring Of Honour - Maybe, but in a builder/humanitarian category, not necessarily as a player. Perhaps this honour could be done along with a special Vancouver Canucks major charitible initiative in Gino's name.

I suggest the Canucks Odjick Indigenous Education Fund - a Canucks-initiated major charitable donation matching program (matching fan contributions up to $4 million for a combined total of $8 million - along with a kickstarter donation) with proceeds going to one or both of the following:

1. The Indspire program (http://www.indspire.ca) - a national charity fund dedicated to delivering education programs and provide the necessary tools for Indigenous peoples, especially youth to achieve their potential.
   
2. The Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative ( http://www.maei-ieam.ca ) - the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative (MAEI) seeks to improve elementary and secondary school education outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians through the implementation of specific programs and the application of appropriate research. MAEI strives to eliminate the gaps in Aboriginal elementary and secondary education in partnership with First Nations, Métis Nation and the Inuit people, and to improve graduation rates for Aboriginal students by working in partnership with Aboriginal organizations, public and private organizations, governments, businesses, and non-government organizations).

By making the education program contributions nationally-based, it would avoid any bias towards a Maniwaki-only first nation education program, or a BC-only first nation education program. A national indigenous education program would also be good public relations for the Canucks across Canada.

Hey Trevor - are you listening? Help break the cycle of poverty, lower the dropout rate, and promote great aboriginal role models and success stories for better outcomes.

P.S. A statue (like Terry Fox's) would be a good idea too - especially if it was a recognized first nations artist!

[Lancaster]

Have some annual Gino Odjick charity night or something.

[kmotamed]

No, I don't believe either of those will or should happen. But like some of the previous posters have mentioned, starting a fund or charity would be a great idea!

[Butcher]

I really dont get the repeated comments in this thread about how we'd be honoring him just because hes ill now. Im assuming that people saying that never watched him play - an assumption, yes, but thats what im really thinking. His impact on and off the ice is among the greats in Canucks history. Did he rack up points? no. Did he have a lot of talent? no. But theres something to be said for someone that can inspire the team, the fans, and the community, and continues to do so. A true canuck - most 90's canucks fans will tell you that, and, if not, Gino himself will tell you that (and does all the time in interviews). Youre an inspiration Gino, now and definitely before you got ill as well.

Im all for the Ring of Honour. Not jersey retirement though.

[IBatch]

I used to go watch hockey and start Gino chants. He should get some honour, I just hope he is well enough to attend and enjoy.

Very sad.

Great team player, would defend anyone anytime (I am sorry you have not seen that, unlike Brashear who eventually replaced him, he would go beserk if someone so much as looked at a star player or 4th line replacement wrong, was dangerous enough that our team had true intimidation - add Momesso, Diduck, Dirk, Murzyn, Antoski, Hunter etc. there was a time when we had whole lines that could fight) and do it well.

Bure to Odljick! miss...lol you missed some good times.

[guntrix]

I really dont get the repeated comments in this thread about how we'd be honoring him just because hes ill now. Im assuming that people saying that never watched him play - an assumption, yes, but thats what im really thinking. His impact on and off the ice is among the greats in Canucks history. Did he rack up points? no. Did he have a lot of talent? no. But theres something to be said for someone that can inspire the team, the fans, and the community, and continues to do so. A true canuck - most 90's canucks fans will tell you that, and, if not, Gino himself will tell you that (and does all the time in interviews). Youre an inspiration Gino, now and definitely before you got ill as well.

Im all for the Ring of Honour. Not jersey retirement though.

Some of us have seen him play.

I just find it funny that there weren't any 'Gino for ROH' or 'Retire his jersey' threads up until the news of his illness.

The guy was a very nice character off the ice but we can't do that for every player like that who comes around. I do like some of the other posters' ideas in starting a charity in his name or even doing an unofficial ceremony.

[mephnick]

Gino isn't within a city block of the ring of honour, and yes, I saw him play a lot.

I saw a good character guy and a fan favourite, no different than hundreds of players before him around the league.

Not everyone deserves to be celebrated. This is objectively only a discussion because of the illness and a little bit of nostalgia.

[falcon45ca]

No to everything. As has already been said, would we even have this conversation if Gino wasn't ill? Giving people accolades simply because they're sick is insulting to everyone involved.

[tocnhockey]

No, I don't believe either of those will or should happen. But like some of the previous posters have mentioned, starting a fund or charity would be a great idea!

This ^

I loved Gino when he played here and it's too bad the Canucks don't have a Ring of Fan Favorite cause he would surely be that.

[Benchsplinters]

Respectfully, Gino was a fan favorite however, retiring his number or giving him a place in the ROH for sentimental reasons is not right. As one poster put it, if Gino had not unfortunately fallen sick, we would not be having this conversation.

The proper place to honor him would be to set up a trust fund in his name to help with Canuck charity work or rename a local team award in his name.

[Mike Vanderhoek]

It would be nice if they did something (fund a program or something) but doesn't fit for the ring of honor and certainly not retirement.

I agree. As it is now too many numbers get retired, I think a number should be acknowledged and raised to the rafters but still a number active players can use.

Gino Odjick brought some excitement and was a great teammate, not to lessen his impact but this is true of many NHLers.

[touchable]

I would do the same as was done with Wayne Maki's number 11. Unofficially retired, no jersey in the rafters.

Also, honour Gino with a helmet decal for the remainder of this season and have a display somewhere amongst the other displays that celebrate the team's past to mention Gino and his battles.

As popular as Gino is with fans, I don't think Gino belongs in the rafters or with a display in the ring of honour.

Messier