Gaston
Gingras

As a young boy, Gaston Gingras expressed no interest in playing hockey. But by age seven he conceded that if his best buddy was willing to play, then he'd play, too. So Gingras' mother equipped them both and Gaston's career took off.

From early on, he could skate like the wind was at his back. His blueline mobility made him a bluechip prospect wherever he played. Junior stints with the North Bay Trappers, Kitchener Rangers and Hamilton Fincups lead to an under-aged signing with the Birmingham Bulls of the WHA.

Gingras spent one season in the South, joining fellow "Baby Bulls" Goulet, Vaive, Harstburg, Ramage, Riggin and Crowder. But as the remains of the WHA melted down into the NHL, Gingras was summoned to the great hockey temple of Quebec: the Montreal Forum. As a Canadien, he humbly slipped into the dressing room to apprentice with the likes of Robinson, Gainey, Lafleur and Shutt.

But four seasons into his dream, he was dealt to the rival Maple Leafs where he toiled for several years before a return gig in Montreal. In 1986, Gingras reached the peak of his career, winning his first and only Stanley Cup as the Canadiens ousted the Flames in five games.

Gingras rounded out his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues before heading to Europe to play for five seasons in Switzerland and Italy.

His hockey career came to a close in 1996 while serving as a player/coach with the Fredericton Canadiens of the AHL.

Interview with a Legend by Ken Newans

Q: When you came back to Montreal and won the '86 Stanley Cup, that must have been your greatest joy?

Gingras: You can't discount winning the Stanley Cup but winning the Calder Cup with the Habs farm team at Sherbrooke was a great moment. When we won the American League Title, I played with Skrudland, Pat Roy, Mike Lalor and Claude Lemieux and we were all moved up to Montreal. If I hadn't been on that championship team, I might not have made it back to the NHL.

 

Q: Your defence partner when you won the Stanley Cup was Larry Robinson...that had to be special?

Robinson had such great confidence, on a three on two breakout he would take the two and I would take the other one. Robinson controlled the puck a lot like Borje Salming who I played with in Toronto. In fact, Salming might have been better, he could control the puck better and had a better shot but they were both great.

 

Q: Who were the key people in your hockey success?

Without a doubt, my parents. I recall playing Junior A hockey in Kitchener. I was homesick and was having difficulty with my schooling because I was a French Canadian kid from a small town called Temiscaming. I was attending an English public school and wanted to quit and come home. Dad was sympathetic but he convinced me to finish the year. "Give yourself a chance, then after a year if you want to quit and come home, that is fine." I went on to have a great Junior and Pro career. That was the best advice I ever had.

 

Q: Did you realize all your hockey dreams?

Yes I did. I played in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup. I played in the American League and won a Calder Cup, I played and coached in Europe. All in all, I played 18 years of pro hockey and met a lot of wonderful people. I have no regrets.

 

Q: What was your biggest hockey disappointment?

There is no doubt, being booed out of Montreal. I went there as an underage player and much was expected of me, but I was young and my confidence was fragile. Fans had just won four Stanley Cups and every mistake they booed; every time I touched the puck. My only consolation was that they did the same to Lafleur, Robinson and Savard. It was a devastating time.

 

Q: Why are you a part of the Oldtimers' Tour?

We have a great group and it gives us the opportunity to touch fans across the country. In Nanaimo when they had a young man whose cancer was in remission drop the puck, I realized money can't buy the personal satisfaction of helping someone like that.