The Province and Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston discusses the new biography he’s co-authored (with Peter Leech) Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick (Greystone, 2025), with Joseph Planta.
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Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick by Patrick Johnston and Peter Leech (Greystone, 2025).
Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Gino |
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
Patrick Johnston joins me now. He’s co-written a new biography, a highlight of the season, Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick, with Peter Leech, who was also on the program recently. It’s an engaging book on the life of the beloved Vancouver Canucks player Gino Odjick. The book chronicles his early life in Quebec, through to making it in the NHL becoming one of the league’s most feared players, and one of the few Indigenous players. The book also looks at the larger-than-life persona of Odjick, who led a fascinating and fun life on and off the ice. The book looks at the friendships he developed with players, like Pavel Bure, as well as the sort of memorable qualities he brought to the locker room, as well as the team itself within the community, especially with Indigenous youth. The book is also revealing and honest. We read about Odjick’s family life as a son and as a parent and partner. The authors also provide insight as to the various struggles Odjick contended with throughout his life, especially the physical and mental ailments in the last years of his life, which came to an end in 2023 at the age of 52. I’ll ask Patrick about writing the book with Peter, who was one of Odjick’s closest and loyal friends. As well, I’ll ask him about covering the Canucks today. He’s a fixture in The Province, and Postmedia with his reporting and analysis. This new book is published by Greystone Books. We spoke last Monday. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Patrick Johnston; Mr. Johnston, good morning.
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