Gaston Gingras

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Gaston Reginald Gingras (born February 13, 1959 in Temiscaming, Quebec, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League.

Gaston did not take to hockey when he was young. It wasn't till he convinced his mother, around the age of seven, that if his best buddy could play then he would play too. Gaston's mother took the liberty of buying both boys equipment and his hockey dreams took off.

In 1974 he started his journey in the juniors with the North bay Trappers and moved over to the Kitchener Rangers and then off to Hamilton. He then joined the WHA in 1978/79 season with the Birmingham bulls.

Gingras spent one season in the South, joining fellow "Baby Bulls" Goulet, Vaive, Harstburg, Ramage, Riggin and Crowder. It was around this time that the remains of the WHA melted down into the NHL.

In 1979 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. He played 4 season before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2 and a half seasons.

In the mid 84/85 season he was sent back to the AHL where he played for the St. Catharines Saints then traded to the Sherbrooke Canadiens. During this time another highlight of Gastons career emerged. Along with other (some soon to be) hockey greats, teamates Patrick Roy, Stephane Richer, Brian Skrudland, Steve Smith they won the Calder Cup.

In 1985/86 he reached the peak of his career winning his 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.

Gaston often plays with the NHL oldtimers.

He won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1986.

Gingras was drafted 27th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. He played 476 career NHL games, scoring 61 goals and 174 assists for 235 points.

Gaston may be retired but he still plays. He holds clinics to help youth players to become better players. He holds one every Sunday in DDO Quebec. In 2007 he went to Nunavut to help Inuits develop their hockey skills.