Gilbert Dionne

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image =

| image_size =

| position = Left wing

| played_for = Montreal Canadiens
Philadelphia Flyers
Florida Panthers
Cincinnati Cyclones

| shoots = Left

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 194

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|9|19|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Drummondville, Quebec, Canada

| draft = 81st overall

| draft_year = 1990

| draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

| career_start = 1990

| career_end = 2006

}}

Gilbert Dionne (born September 19, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played six seasons in the National Hockey League from 1990–91 until 1995–96. He is the younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne, who is nineteen years his senior.

Early life

Dionne was born on September 19, 1970, in Drummondville, Quebec,{{cite web |title=Gilbert Dionne |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/27448/gilbert-dionne |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 31, 2025}} as the youngest child of Gilbert Sr. and Laurette Dionne.{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Tim |title=Dionne name carries weight, also burdens |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-dionne-name-carr/169249830/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 15, 1997|via=newspapers.com}} Given the 19-year age gap between Dionne and his eldest bother Marcel, they did not grow up together and rarely saw each other.{{cite news |last1=LaPointe |first1=Joe |title=Hockey; Gilbert Dionne Emerges From Brother's Shadow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/sports/hockey-gilbert-dionne-emerges-from-brother-s-shadow.html |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=The New York Times |date=March 8, 1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526053552/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/sports/hockey-gilbert-dionne-emerges-from-brother-s-shadow.html |archive-date=May 26, 2015}} As a youth, he described Marcel as "my great brother that I never see."{{cite news |last1=Rittinger |first1=Bob |title=Canucks' Dionne carries on hockey tradition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-canucks-dionne-c/169250386/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Waterloo Region Record |date=April 6, 1987|via=newspapers.com}}

Career

=Junior=

As a youth, Dionne played in the 1982 and 1983 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Drummondville.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|title=Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA|year=2018|website=Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament|access-date=2019-01-18|archive-date=2019-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306085544/https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/439/Joueurs_Pro.pdf|url-status=dead}} Due to his eldest brothers stardom, Dionne was often unfairly treated by coaches, opposing players, and fans.{{cite news |last1=Smiley |first1=Brian |title=Making his own name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winnipeg-sun-making-his-own-name/169250149/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=The Winnipeg Sun |date=March 25, 1992}} After experiencing a growth spurt at 15, Dionne left Quebec for Niagara Falls, Ontario.{{cite news |last1=Costello |first1=Brian |title=Former Canuck comes of age |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/niagara-falls-review-former-canuck-comes/169250377/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Niagara Falls Review |date=March 9, 1989|via=newspapers.com}} He left on Marcel's suggestion that he learn English and to further separate himself from his brothers reputation.{{cite news |last1=Kalchman |first1=Lois |title=7-goal game for Dionne! (that's brother Gilbert, 17)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-7-goal-game-for-dionne/169250101/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=The Toronto Star |date=April 13, 1988|via=newspapers.com}} After failing to make the Junior-A squad, Dionne was assigned to the Junior-B Niagara Falls Canucks.{{cite news |title=Always Compared to Famous Brother |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-gleaner-always-compared-to-famous/169250366/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Daily Gleaner |date=March 10, 1990}} However, his skating was still a concern and he spent a year playing midget hockey before joining the Canucks. While living in Niagara Falls, Dionne attended École secondaire Confédération and learned English from his teammates. To further separate himself from his brother, Dionne did not tell anyone about his familal connections in his first year with the Canucks.{{cite news |last1=Pap |first1=Elliott |title=Dionne is finally emerging from his brother's shadow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-dionne-is-finally/169250293/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Waterloo Region Record |date=February 11, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}

Following his rookie season, Dionne was drafted in the 19th round, 253rd pick overall, by the Kitchener Rangers in the 1987 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Draft. Part of the reason for his late pick was that the Rangers expected Dionne to return to Montreal. In his second year with the Canucks, Dionne ranked ninth in the league with 36 goals and 84 points through 38 games.

=Professional career=

Dionne was drafted in the fourth round, 81st overall, by his hometown Montreal Canadiens in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.{{cite news |title=Rangers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waterloo-region-record-rangers/169257018/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Waterloo Region Record |date=July 18, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} Following the draft, Dionne signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens.{{cite news |title=Canadiens sign four players |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-canadiens-sign-four-players/169257720/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=St. Catharines Standard |date=September 26, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} He was then assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Fredericton Canadiens, for the 1990–91 season.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Alan |title=Younger Dionne getting brotherly advice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-journal-younger-dionne-getting/169257765/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Telegraph-Journal |date=October 27, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} He quickly established himself on the "Baby Habs Kid Line" with Patrick Lebeau and Jesse Bélanger.{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Bill |title=Canadiens Kids Are All Right |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-gleaner-canadiens-kids-are-all-rig/169255958/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Daily Gleaner |date=November 15, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} He scored seven goals by mid-November before being called up to the NHL level as a replacement for Brian Skrudland.{{cite news |title=Dionne called up |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-dionne-called-up/169256690/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=November 19, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} He made his NHL debut on November 19 against the Quebec Nordiques.{{cite news |title=Habs promote Dionne, Chabot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-journal-habs-promote-dionne-c/169258514/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Telegraph-Journal |date=March 19, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} He rejoined the Fredericton Canadiens the following day.{{cite news |title=Canadiens drill Oilers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-journal-canadiens-drill-oilers/169258749/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Telegraph-Journal |date=November 21, 1990|via=newspapers.com}} By January 1991, Dionne ranked among the top scorers in the AHL with 16 goals and 40 points.{{cite news |title=No Shortcuts For Belanger |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-gleaner-no-shortcuts-for-belanger/169258653/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Daily Gleaner |date=January 5, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} He earned another one-game recall on March 18 and skated in the Canadiens 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.{{cite news |title=Canadiens send Dionne to AHL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-journal-canadiens-send-dionne/169258492/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Telegraph-Journal |date=March 20, 1991|via=newspapers.com}}

After showing up to the Canadiens training camp out of shape,{{cite news |last1=Zurkowsky |first1=Herb |title=A heavier Dionne strains at Habs' rookie camp |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-a-heavier-dionne-strains-at/169256609/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=August 31, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} Dionne was assigned to the Fredericton Canadiens to start the 1991–92 season.{{cite news |title=Habs cut four |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald-habs-cut-four/169259399/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Calgary Herald |date=September 24, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} On December 22, 1991, Dionne was called up to the NHL level as a replacement for Mario Roberge. At the time of the call-up, Dionne was leading the AHL Canadiens in scoring with 19 goals and 27 assists.{{cite news |last1=Zurkowsky |first1=Herb |title=Gilbert Dionne glad to skip Christmas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-gilbert-dionne-glad-to-skip/169256574/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=December 24, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} He scored his first career NHL goal on December 29, in a 3–1 win over the Edmonton Oilers.{{cite news |title=Canadiens 3 Oilers 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-transcript-canadiens-3-oilers/169255669/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=The Times-Transcript |date=December 30, 1991|via=newspapers.com}} While playing with the NHL Canadiens, Dionne earned $135,000, a significant increase from the $33,000 he earned with Fredericton.{{cite news |last1=Zurkowsky |first1=Herb |title=Solidarity is key |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-solidarity-is-key/169251693/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=March 23, 1992|via=newspapers.com}} He recorded his first career NHL hat-trick on February 26 against the Minnesota North Stars, which gave him 11 goals over 24 games.{{cite news |title=Dionne's hat trick leads Habs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-bay-nugget-dionnes-hat-trick-lead/169251630/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=North Bay Nugget |date=February 27, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Gilbert Dionne Attracts Brother Back To Hockey |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-gilbert-dionne-a/169250770/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=St. Louis Post Dispatch |date=February 29, 1992|via=newspapers.com}} By the end of March, Dionne ranked among the top 10 in rookie scoring with 34 points{{cite news |title=Dionne among top rookies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-dionne-among-top-rookies/169251644/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=March 28, 1992|via=newspapers.com}} and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.{{cite web |title=NHL announces 2019-20 All-Rookie team |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-all-rookie-team-features-quinn-hughes-cale-makar-319134378 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 31, 2025 |date=September 21, 2020}} He scored two goals in his 1992 Stanley Cup playoffs debut against the Hartford Whalers.{{cite news |title=Dionne in playoff form |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-dionne-in-playoff-form/169250123/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=St. Catharines Standard |date=April 20, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}

He played a few games with Fredericton the following 1992-93 season, scoring 7 points in 3 games, but was soon called up and appeared in 75 games for Montreal, scoring 48 points. More significantly, he was a valuable contributor in the playoffs with 12 points in 20 games as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup.

The following 93-94 season, he stayed with Montreal, but after a bright start, his scoring trailed off and he found himself a healthy scratch in several games, and two in the playoffs.

In January 1995, Dionne upset his teammates after describing some as "playing like chickens with their heads cut off" to the media after he was made a healthy scratch.{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=Red |title='Gilbert, shut up': Roy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-gilbert-shut-up-roy/169250325/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=January 25, 1995|via=newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Is apology too late? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-is-apology-too-late/169250088/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=January 28, 1995|via=newspapers.com}} While he gave an apology to the team, it was a driving factor towards his trade to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 9, 1995.{{cite news |last1=Zurkowsky |first1=Herb |title=Ex-Canadiens relieved, surprised |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-ex-canadiens-relieved-surpr/169249930/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=February 10, 1995|via=newspapers.com}} At the time of trade, Dionne had recorded three points in six games.{{cite news |title=To Philadelphia |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-to-philadelphia/169249943/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |publisher=Montreal Gazette |date=February 10, 1995|via=newspapers.com}} His Flyers career saw him suit up 20 times in the first season and manage 6 assists, but he soon lost his regular position and found himself fighting to stay on the lower order lines. After being waived the following season, he played for a short while for the Florida Panthers affiliate the Carolina Monarchs where he was again prolific, but found opportunities back in the NHL lacking.

Overall, he played 223 career NHL games, scoring 61 goals and 79 assists for 140 points.

Sent down to the minor leagues thereafter, he remained a minor league star, playing seven more seasons in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League before closing out his professional career with two seasons in Germany.

=Retirement and legacy=

His jersey number (21) was retired by the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL on December 2, 2006, in recognition of "Gilbert Dionne Day".{{cite web |last1=Glew |first1=Kevin |title=Backchecking: Dionne 'King' in Tavistock |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/backchecking-dionne-king-in-tavistock|publisher=The Hockey News |accessdate=18 January 2019 |language=en-CA |date=22 January 2008}} He played four seasons for the Cyclones, then in the International Hockey League, leading the team in scoring twice and being the franchise's second leading career scorer behind Don Biggs.{{Citation needed|date=January 2019}}

Personal life

Dionne and his wife Heather have five children together.

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1986–87

| Niagara Falls Canucks

| GHL

| 17

| 9

| 6

| 15

| 16

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1987–88

| Niagara Falls Canucks

| GHL

| 36

| 48

| 84

| 60

| —

1988–89

| Kitchener Rangers

| OHL

| 66

| 11

| 33

| 44

| 13

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1989–90

| Kitchener Rangers

| OHL

| 64

| 48

| 57

| 105

| 85

| 17

| 13

| 10

| 23

| 22

1989–90

| Kitchener Rangers

| MC

| —

| 5

| 4

| 6

| 10

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1990–91

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 2

| 0

| —

1990–91

| Fredericton Canadiens

| AHL

| 77

| 40

| 47

| 87

| 62

| 9

| 6

| 5

| 11

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1991–92

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 39

| 21

| 13

| 34

| 10

| 11

| 3

| 4

| 7

| 10

1991–92

| Fredericton Canadiens

| AHL

| 29

| 19

| 27

| 46

| 20

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1992–93

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 75

| 20

| 28

| 48

| 63

| 20

| 6

| 12

| 20

1992–93

| Fredericton Canadiens

| AHL

| 3

| 4

| 3

| 7

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1993–94

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 74

| 19

| 26

| 45

| 31

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 0

1994–95

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 6

| 0

| 3

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1994–95

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 20

| 0

| 6

| 2

| 3

| 0

| 4

1995–96

| Philadelphia Flyers

| NHL

| 2

| 0

| 1

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1995–96

| Florida Panthers

| NHL

| 5

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 0

| —

1995–96

| Carolina Monarchs

| AHL

| 55

| 43

| 58

| 101

| 29

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1996–97

| Carolina Monarchs

| AHL

| 72

| 41

| 47

| 88

| 69

| —

1997–98

| Cincinnati Cyclones

| IHL

| 76

| 42

| 57

| 99

| 54

| 9

| 3

| 4

| 7

| 28

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1998–99

| Cincinnati Cyclones

| IHL

| 76

| 35

| 53

| 88

| 123

| 3

| 0

| 2

| 6

1999–2000

| Cincinnati Cyclones

| IHL

| 81

| 34

| 49

| 83

| 88

| 11

| 4

| 3

| 7

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2000–01

| Cincinnati Cyclones

| IHL

| 80

| 23

| 43

| 66

| 46

| 5

| 0

| 2

| 0

2001–02

| Krefeld Pinguine

| DEL

| 57

| 15

| 26

| 41

| 26

| 3

| 0

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2002–03

| Hannover Scorpions

| DEL

| 51

| 17

| 29

| 46

| 55

| —

2003–04

| Cambridge Hornets

| OHA-Sr.

| 17

| 22

| 20

| 42

| 6

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2004–05

| Cambridge Hornets

| OHA-Sr.

| 25

| 16

| 28

| 44

| 4

| —

2005–06

| Cambridge Hornets

| MLH

| 19

| 11

| 24

| 35

| 8

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 223

! 61

! 79

! 140

! 108

! 39

! 10

! 12

! 22

! 34

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | AHL totals

! 236

! 147

! 182

! 329

! 180

! 9

! 6

! 5

! 11

! 8

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | IHL totals

! 313

! 134

! 202

! 336

! 311

! 28

! 7

! 11

! 18

! 42

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers

Category:Florida Panthers players

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:Fredericton Canadiens players

Category:Ice hockey people from Drummondville

Category:Kitchener Rangers players

Category:Living people

Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks

Category:Montreal Canadiens players

Category:Philadelphia Flyers players

Category:Stanley Cup champions