Bep Guidolin

Armand "Bep" Guidolin (December 9, 1925 – November 24, 2008) was a Canadian National Hockey League player. He was born in Thorold, Ontario. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children.
Guidolin stood 5'8" at 175 lbs, and was left shooting left winger in the NHL. He later went on to a coaching career. He was nicknamed "Bep" because his mother spoke Italian and very little English. Armand was the baby of the family and his mother pronounced baby as "beppy". The nickname stuck and was shortened to "Bep". He is the cousin of fellow NHL player and coach Aldo Guidolin.

Guidolin played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals of the OHA, playing in the Memorial Cup in 1942. Later that year he became the youngest player (16 years, 11 months) to play in an NHL game, on November 12, 1942.

His quick rise to the NHL was a direct result of World War II. The Boston Bruins were in dire need of replacements to fill the roster holes created by so many players leaving for military service. In 1944, his eligibility for military service brought a one-year break from his NHL career.

Guidolin also played for the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Black Hawks. Armand was an ardent supporter for the formation of a players' union, which led to an early demise to his NHL career in 1952. He played for nine years in the minors, then retired to a coaching career.

Guidolin coached the Belleville McFarlands, winning the Allan Cup in 1958, and the World Championship in 1959. In 1965 he became the coach of his former junior team the Oshawa Generals, featuring 17-year-old future Hockey Hall of Fame defenceman Bobby Orr. He led the Generals to the Memorial Cup final in 1966 versus the Edmonton Oil Kings. Guidolin later coached the London Knights of the OHL, Boston Bruins and the Kansas City Scouts of the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association, and the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Firebirds of the American Hockey League. Coached the Timmins Northstars of the Northland Intermediate Hockey League which went on to the Hardy Cup Finals for the All Canadians.

--- Regular Season ------- Playoffs ---- SeasonTeamLgeGPGAPtsPIMGPGA Pts PIM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1942-43Boston BruinsNHL427152253904412 1943-44Boston BruinsNHL4717254258---------- 1945-46Boston BruinsNHL50151732621052713 1946-47Boston BruinsNHL561013237330116 1947-48Detroit Red WingsNHL581210227820004 1948-49Detroit Red WingsNHL40000---------- 1948-49Chicago Black HawksNHL5641721116---------- 1949-50Chicago Black HawksNHL7017345142---------- 1950-51Chicago Black HawksNHL6912223456---------- 1951-52Chicago Black HawksNHL6713183178---------- 1952-53Syracuse WarriorsAHL231892430008 1952-53Ottawa SenatorsQSHL439243354---------- 1953-54Ottawa SenatorsQHL71183856148---------- 1954-55Ottawa SenatorsQHL195121777---------- 1954-55North Bay TrappersNOHA00000---------- 1956-57Belleville McFarlandsOHASr0162945156---------- 1957-58Windsor BulldogsOHASr726824---------- 1957-58Belleville McFarlandsOHASr012183060---------- 1958-59Kingston MerchantsOHASr00000---------- 1960-61Omaha-IndianapolisIHL6414334763---------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------NHL Totals51910717127861624571235 

NHL

WHA

Minor leagues

 SeasonTeamLge TypeGPWL T OTLPctResult1964-65 Windsor SpitfiresOHA-B Head Coach1965-66 Oshawa GeneralsOHAHead Coach 48 22 18 80 0.5421969-70 London KnightsOHAHead Coach 54 22 25 70 0.4721970-71 London KnightsOHAHead Coach 62 19 35 80 0.3711978-79 Philadelphia FirebirdsAHLHead Coach 80 23 49 80 0.338 Out of Playoffs1981-82 Brantford AlexandersOHLHead Coach --------Replaced Mid-Season--------