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.

Playing career

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.

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.

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 Black Hawks NHL 56 4 17 21 116 -- -- -- -- --
1949-50 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70 17 34 51 42 -- -- -- -- --
1950-51 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 69 12 22 34 56 -- -- -- -- --
1951-52 Chicago Black Hawks 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

NHL

WHA

Minor leagues

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
1978-79 Philadelphia Firebirds AHL Head Coach 80 23 49 8 0 0.338 Out of Playoffs
1981-82 Brantford Alexanders OHL Head Coach --------Replaced Mid-Season--------

[ Source: Wikipedia ]