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 a left shooting left winger in the NHL. He later went onto 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".

Playing Career
Guidolin played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals of the OHA, playing in the 1941-42 Memorial Cup Final. Later that year he became the youngest player (16 years, 11 months) to play in an NHL game, November 12, 1942. (Toronto 3, Boston 1).

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 of the formation of a players' union, which led to an early demise to his NHL career in 1952. He then played for nine years in the minors, then retired to a coaching career.

Coaching Career
Guidolin coached the Belleville McFarlands, winning the 1957-58 Allan Cup Final, 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 1965-66 Memorial Cup Final 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.

Career Statistics
--- Regular Season ---  Playoffs Season  Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM -- 1942-43 Boston Bruins               NHL    42    7   15   22   53   9   0   4   4  12 1943-44 Boston Bruins               NHL    47   17   25   42   58  --  --  --  --  -- 1945-46 Boston Bruins               NHL    50   15   17   32   62  10   5   2   7  13 1946-47 Boston Bruins               NHL    56   10   13   23   73   3   0   1   1   6 1947-48 Detroit Red Wings           NHL    58   12   10   22   78   2   0   0   0   4 1948-49 Detroit Red Wings           NHL     4    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  -- 1948-49 Chicago Blackhawks          NHL    56    4   17   21  116  --  --  --  --  -- 1949-50 Chicago Blackhawks          NHL    70   17   34   51   42  --  --  --  --  -- 1950-51 Chicago Blackhawks          NHL    69   12   22   34   56  --  --  --  --  -- 1951-52 Chicago Blackhawks          NHL    67   13   18   31   78  --  --  --  --  -- 1952-53 Syracuse Warriors           AHL    23    1    8    9   24   3   0   0   0   8 1952-53 Ottawa Senators             QSHL   43    9   24   33   54  --  --  --  --  -- 1953-54 Ottawa Senators             QHL    71   18   38   56  148  --  --  --  --  -- 1954-55 Ottawa Senators             QHL    19    5   12   17   77  --  --  --  --  -- 1954-55 North Bay Trappers          NOHA    0    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  -- 1956-57 Belleville McFarlands       OHASr   0   16   29   45  156  --  --  --  --  -- 1957-58 Windsor Bulldogs            OHASr   7    2    6    8   24  --  --  --  --  -- 1957-58 Belleville McFarlands       OHASr   0   12   18   30   60  --  --  --  --  -- 1958-59 Kingston Merchants          OHASr   0    0    0    0    0  --  --  --  --  -- 1960-61 Omaha-Indianapolis          IHL    64   14   33   47   63  --  --  --  --  --

NHL Totals                       519  107  171  278  616  24   5   7  12  35

Coaching Statistics
Season Team                     Lge Type        GP  W  L T OTL  Pct        Result 1964-65 Windsor Spitfires      OHA-B Head Coach 1965-66 Oshawa Generals        OHA   Head Coach 48 22 18 8   0 0.542 1969-70 London Knights         OHA   Head Coach 54 22 25 7   0 0.472 1970-71 London Knights         OHA   Head Coach 62 19 35 8   0 0.371 1971-72 Boston Braves          AHL   Head Coach 76 41 21 14  0 0.632 Lost in round 2 1972-73 Boston Bruins          NHL   Head Coach Replaced Mid-Season 1973-74 Boston Bruins          NHL   Head Coach 78 52 17 9   0 0.724 Lost in Finals 1976-77 Edmonton Oilers        WHA   Head Coach 81 34 43 4   0 0.444 Lost in round 1 1978-79 Philadelphia Firebirds AHL   Head Coach 80 23 49 8   0 0.338 Out of Playoffs 1978-79 Colorado Rockies       NHL   Head Coach Replaced Mid-Season 1981-82 Brantford Alexanders   OHL   Head Coach Replaced Mid-Season -