Mario Gosselin (hockey player)
Encyclopedia
Mario Gosselin is a Canadian hockey goaltender who played 12 years in the NHL
for the Quebec Nordiques
, the Los Angeles Kings
and the Hartford Whalers
.
of the QMJHL
from 1980–1981 to 1982–1983. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques
with 55th pick (third round) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
.
He was then recruited by the Canadian National Team, for which he played in 1983–1984 and 1984–1985. He helped Team Canada to finish fourth at the 1984 Winter Olympics
and was the first Thetford Mines native to take part in the Olympic Games
.
Back from the Olympics, he played three games for the Quebec Nordiques
in 1984–1985 and stayed there until the 1988–89 NHL season, with very briefs stints with the Fredericton Express
and the Halifax Citadels
of the American Hockey League
.
After a couple of seasons, the Nordiques didn't renew his contract on June 6, 1989 and he signed with the Los Angeles Kings
, for one season. Mario Gosselin was the first goaltender in NHL history to lose a game without giving up a goal. Gosselin filled in for Kelly Hrudey and the Kings would give up an empty net goal. The result was a 7-6 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. In 1990–1991, he signed with the Hartford Whalers
and played for their minor league affiliates the Phoenix Roadrunners
and the Springfield Indians
the next three seasons, being recalled by the Whalers for 16 games in 1992–1993. The following season, he played 2 games in Springfield and 7 in Hartford before suffering a knee injury that ended his season and career.
He then worked as a radio analyst for the Roadrunners games and hockey coordinator at the YMCA
before moving back to the province of Quebec in 1997. He now lives in La Prairie
with his wife and two sons, Francis and Yanick and gives hockey clinics for the Énergie Hockey School.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
.
Biography
Gosselin played his junior hockey for the Shawinigan CataractesShawinigan Cataractes
The Shawinigan Cataractes are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Shawinigan, Quebec. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruins until 1973, and were called the Shawinigan Dynamos from 1973–78.The Cataractes play their...
of the QMJHL
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
from 1980–1981 to 1982–1983. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
with 55th pick (third round) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
1982 NHL Entry Draft
The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
.
He was then recruited by the Canadian National Team, for which he played in 1983–1984 and 1984–1985. He helped Team Canada to finish fourth at the 1984 Winter Olympics
1984 Winter Olympics
The 1984 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIV Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from 8–19 February 1984 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Other candidate cities were Sapporo, Japan; and Gothenburg, Sweden...
and was the first Thetford Mines native to take part in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Back from the Olympics, he played three games for the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
in 1984–1985 and stayed there until the 1988–89 NHL season, with very briefs stints with the Fredericton Express
Fredericton Express
The Fredericton Express were a professional ice hockey team based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1981 and 1988. The Express were affiliated with the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League...
and the Halifax Citadels
Halifax Citadels
The Halifax Citadels were a professional ice hockey team based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League between 1988 and 1993...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
After a couple of seasons, the Nordiques didn't renew his contract on June 6, 1989 and he signed with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, for one season. Mario Gosselin was the first goaltender in NHL history to lose a game without giving up a goal. Gosselin filled in for Kelly Hrudey and the Kings would give up an empty net goal. The result was a 7-6 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. In 1990–1991, he signed with the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
and played for their minor league affiliates the Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. The team was housed at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team played in the IHL from 1989 to 1997. The IHL Roadrunners were named for a World Hockey Association team of the same name...
and the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
the next three seasons, being recalled by the Whalers for 16 games in 1992–1993. The following season, he played 2 games in Springfield and 7 in Hartford before suffering a knee injury that ended his season and career.
He then worked as a radio analyst for the Roadrunners games and hockey coordinator at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
before moving back to the province of Quebec in 1997. He now lives in La Prairie
La Prairie, Quebec
La Prairie is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in southwestern Quebec, Canada at the confluence of the Saint-Jacques River and the Saint Lawrence River in the Regional County Municipality of Roussillon...
with his wife and two sons, Francis and Yanick and gives hockey clinics for the Énergie Hockey School.