Gilles Bilodeau Explained

Played For:Quebec Nordiques
Birmingham Bulls
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:215
Birth Date:July 31, 1955
Birth Place:Saint-Prime, Quebec, Canada
Death Place:Birmingham, Alabama, US
Draft:Undrafted
Wha Draft:121st overall
Wha Draft Year:1975
Wha Draft Team:Toronto Toros
Career Start:1975
Career End:1984

Joseph Gilles Bilodeau (July 31, 1955August 12, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played nine games in the National Hockey League and 143 games in the World Hockey Association between 1976 and 1980. He played for the Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls, and Quebec Nordiques. Bilodeau was nicknamed "Bad News", due to a physically aggressive style of play.[1]

Playing career

Born in Saint-Prime, Quebec, Bilodeau played junior hockey for the Sorel Black Hawks. In 1975, the Toros selected him No. 122 overall in the amateur league draft. He made his pro debut with the minor league Beauce Jaros. In his first pro season, Bilodeau led the NAHL in penalty minutes, accumulating 451 minutes in just 58 games during the 1975–76 season. The eight goals and 17 assists he recorded were the highest season totals of his career.

Finishing off the 1975–76 season with the Toros, he played 14 games in spot duty accumulating 1 assist and 38 penalty minutes. Next year the Toros transferred to Birmingham to become the Bulls. During the 1976–77 season, Bilodeau split his time with the Birmingham Bulls and the Charlotte Checkers of the SHL. With Birmingham he played 34 games while scoring 2 goals and 6 assists and picking up 133 penalty minutes. In Charlotte, he had 3 goals, 6 assists and 242 penalty minutes during 28 games. He would finish the 1977–78 season with 258 penalty minutes with the Bulls.

The Quebec Nordiques signed him as a free agent in 1978. The following season, the Nordiques were among the four WHA teams absorbed into the NHL. Bilodeau skated in nine NHL games, gaining a single assist and recording just 25 penalty minutes. He played the 1980–81 season for the Richmond Rifles of the EHL before settling in Birmingham. He played to 2 games for the Birmingham Bulls of the ACHL during the 1983–84 season before retiring.

He died on Aug. 12, 2008, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1974–75Sorel EperviersQMJHL62 6 9 15 377
1975–76Toronto TorosWHA14 0 1 1 38
1975–76Beauce JarosNAHL58 8 17 25 4515 0 1 1 46
1976–77Birmingham BullsWHA34 2 6 8 133
1976–77Charlotte CheckersSHL28 3 6 9 242
1977–78Birmingham BullsWHA59 2 2 4 2583 0 0 0 27
1977–78Binghamton DustersAHL4 1 2 3 7
1978–79Quebec NordiquesWHA36 3 6 9 1413 0 0 0 25
1978–79Binghamton DustersAHL30 2 1 3 114
1979–80Quebec NordiquesNHL9 0 1 1 25
1979–80Syracuse FirebirdsAHL61 1 6 7 1313 0 1 1 25
1980–81Richmond RiflesEHL39 6 6 12 2078 0 2 2 30
1983–84Birmingham BullsACHL2 1 2 3 16
WHA totals143 7 15 22 5706 0 0 0 52
NHL totals9 0 1 1 25

Notes and References

  1. Book: Surgent . Scott . 2013 . The Complete World Hockey Association, 9e . Tempe, Arizona . 320 . 978-1-490967400 .