Gilles Bilodeau

Who is Gilles Bilodeau?

Gilles Bilodeau was a professional ice hockey player who played 9 games in the National Hockey League and 143 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls, and Quebec Nordiques.

Gilles nickname was "Bad News" he was known for his fierce aggressive style of play and his fighting ability but had limited hockey skills. Off the ice he was known to be a gentleman. He was the third of nine children.

Early in his career in his native Quebec, he earned such nicknames as Tarzan and Zombie. When the Toronto Toros of the World Hockey Association promoted him from the minors, the team unveiled him as Bad News Bilodeau, a fitting nickname for a hockey enforcer.

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound left-winger played major 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 at Saint-Georges, Que.

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.