The Ontario Hockey League is saddened by news of the passing of former London Knights goaltender Gilles Gilbert, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 74.
Gilbert was an original member of the Knights in 1968-69, playing alongside fellow future NHLers in Darryl Sittler, Dan Maloney and John Gould. The St. Espirit, Quebec native would be selected by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1969 NHL Draft and go on to play over 400 games in the league.
Gilbert manned the crease for the North Stars, the Boston Bruins, and the Detroit Red Wings before retiring in 1983. Returning to his home province of Quebec, he’d serve as a pro scout and goaltending consultant for the New York Islanders from 1996-2001.
During his rookie season with the North Stars, Gilbert allowed the 498th, 499th and 500th career goals off the stick of the legendary Jean Beliveau. Acquired from Minnesota in 1973 in exchange for forward Fred Stanfield, Gilbert spent seven years in Boston, going 155-73-39 in 277 regular-season games, while teaming up with Gerry Cheevers from 1976-80. Gilbert was an NHL All-Star in 1973-74, backstopping the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final where they’d lose to the Philadelphia Flyers. He was also included in some other notable NHL history, being named the first star of Game 7 of the 1979 Stanley Cup Semi-Final despite surrendering a late tying-goal off the stick of Montreal’s Guy Lafleur before Yvon Lambert scored a heart-breaking overtime winner for the Montreal Canadiens. Gilbert’s time in Boston came to a close in 1980 as the Bruins dealt him to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for fellow goaltender Rogie Vachon.
For more on the life and career of Gilles Gilbert, detroithockeynow.com.
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