Jean-Guy Gendron

Joseph Eudore Jean-Guy "Smitty" Gendron (August 30, 1934 – June 30, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 863 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. Gendron scored his first NHL goal on November 9, 1955, for the New York Rangers in their 1–1 home tie versus the Montreal Canadiens. He also played 127 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Quebec Nordiques, a team for which he was the head coach for two seasons.

Gendron played junior hockey with the Trois-Rivieres Reds before making his professional debut with the Providence Reds in 1954. He scored an NHL career high 24 goals in 1959–60 despite generally being called upon to play a hard-nosed, defensive-oriented role.

Personal life and death

He died on June 30, 2022, through medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1951–52 Trois-Rivières Reds QJHL 41 9 28 37 77 5 0 1 1 16 1952–53 Trois-Rivières Reds QJHL 47 19 10 29 98 6 2 3 5 12 1952–53 Quebec Aces QMHL — — — — — 3 0 0 0 0 1953–54 Trois-Rivières Reds QJHL 54 42 45 87 179 4 0 1 1 8 1954–55 Providence Reds AHL 47 24 15 39 38 — — — — — 1955–56 New York Rangers NHL 63 5 7 12 38 5 2 1 3 2 1956–57 New York Rangers NHL 70 9 6 15 40 5 0 1 1 6 1957–58 New York Rangers NHL 70 10 17 27 68 6 1 0 1 11 1958–59 Boston Bruins NHL 60 15 9 24 57 7 1 0 1 18 1959–60 Boston Bruins NHL 67 24 11 35 64 — — — — — 1960–61 Boston Bruins NHL 13 1 7 8 24 — — — — — 1960–61 Montreal Canadiens NHL 53 9 12 21 51 5 0 0 0 2 1961–62 New York Rangers NHL 69 14 11 25 71 6 3 1 4 2 1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 66 21 22 43 42 — — — — — 1963–64 Boston Bruins NHL 54 5 13 18 43 — — — — — 1963–64 Providence Reds AHL 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 1964–65 Quebec Aces AHL 53 20 14 34 61 5 1 1 2 8 1965–66 Quebec Aces AHL 58 26 35 61 70 6 1 0 1 6 1966–67 Quebec Aces AHL 68 28 45 73 72 5 2 1 3 4 1967–68 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1967–68 Quebec Aces AHL 72 29 58 87 72 15 7 14 21 24 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 74 20 35 55 65 4 0 0 0 6 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 71 23 21 44 54 — — — — — 1970–71 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 76 20 16 36 46 4 0 1 1 0 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 56 6 13 19 36 — — — — — 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques WHA 63 17 33 50 113 — — — — — 1973–74 Quebec Nordiques WHA 64 11 8 19 42 — — — — — AHL totals 304 128 168 296 313 31 11 16 27 42 NHL totals 863 182 201 383 701 42 7 4 11 47 WHA totals 127 28 41 69 155 — — — — —

WHA coaching record Team Year Regular season Postseason G W L T Pts Division rank Result QUE 1974–75 78 46 32 — 92 1st in Canadian Lost in Avco Cup Finals QUE 1975–76 81 50 27 4 104 2nd in Canadian Lost in Quarterfinals Total 159 96 59 4 2 playoff appearances