Gilles Lupien
Born (1954-04-20)April 20, 1954
Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec, Canada
Died May 18, 2021(2021-05-18) (aged 67)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Pittsburgh Penguins
Hartford Whalers
NHL Draft 33rd overall, 1974
Montreal Canadiens
WHA Draft 71st overall, 1974
Toronto Toros
Playing career 1971–1982

Joseph Leonard Gilles Lupien (April 20, 1954 – May 18, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played five seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Hartford Whalers from 1977 to 1982. After retiring, he became a sports agent, businessman, and was an owner of the Longueuil Chevaliers and the Victoriaville Tigres.

Lupien played three seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1974 and played for their minor league affiliate until 1977, when he made his NHL debut. After spending three seasons with the organization and being part of their Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1978 and 1979, he was traded to Pittsburgh Penguins before the 1980–81 season. He was then dealt to the Hartford Whalers, before serving as player–assistant of the Binghamton Whalers and retiring at the end of the 1981–82 season.

Early life

Lupien was born on April 20, 1954, in Brownsburg-Chatham, near Lachute, Quebec.[1][2] He played for the Quebec Remparts, Sherbrooke Castors, and Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 1971 to 1974.[3]

Career

Lupien was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (33rd overall selection) of the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft.[1][4] He played for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, their minor league affiliate that were members of the American Hockey League (AHL), and was part of their Calder Cup-winning teams in 1976 and 1977.[2] He played for the Voyageurs until 1977–78,[3] when he made his NHL debut. At 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall, he was brought in as the on-ice bodyguard of Guy Lafleur and an enforcer.[1] He finished his debut season with 4 points in 46 games. His playing time in the NHL increased to 72 games during his sophomore season, in which he amassed a career-high 10 points (with 9 assists), a career-best plus–minus rating of 31, and finished eighth in the league in defensive point shares (5.6).[4] Lupien also played in eight and 13 playoff games, respectively,[4] en-route to the Canadiens' 1978 and 1979 Stanley Cup championships.[1][2] In his final season with the Canadiens in 1979–80, he recorded eight points in 56 games,[4] while leading the franchise in penalty minutes with 117.[5] He was subsequently traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 26, 1980, for their third round selection of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.[4]

During the first half of the 1980–81 season, Lupien had just one assist in 31 games played, with a plus–minus rating of −15. He was traded mid-season to the Hartford Whalers on February 20, 1981. He played 20 games for the franchise that year (contributing two goals and four assists), before playing only one game the following year, in what turned out to be his final season in the NHL.[4] He subsequently acted as player–assistant of the Binghamton Whalers in the AHL, recording 20 points in 53 games,[3] before retiring at the end of 1981–82.[1]

Post-playing career

After retiring from professional hockey, Lupien became a professional hockey agent. He notably represented goalkeepers Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo,[1] acting as the latter's agent for 19 years.[6][7] He was also the agent of Steve Bernier,[8][9] Corey Crawford,[10] and Sean Couturier.[11] Lupien was the agent for an unnamed player from the Drummondville Voltigeurs who contacted him regarding sexual advances by the team's coach Jean Bégin. Lupien later reported the incidents to the QMJHL, but the matter was disregarded as the league said there was no proof of misconduct. Bégin was later convicted.[12][13]

As an agent, Lupien was a vocal proponent of improving the working conditions of players in junior ice hockey.[14] He advocated the unionization of the Canadian Hockey League,[15] and was of the opinion that it could assist in diminishing fighting at the amateur level and result in better treatment of players by their teams.[16] In supporting the elimination of violence in hockey on all levels,[17] he recommended that coaches be sanctioned for any fights their players are involved in.[18] Lupien also called for decreasing the number of games in a season and cutting down travel time, believing that the taxing schedule was responsible for the mounting drug usage among junior players.[16][19][20] He alleged in December 2003 that approximately half of the players in the QMJHL used drugs, either for recreational purposes, to enhance their performance, or to sleep on long bus journeys.[20][21]

Lupien also worked as a businessman in the fast-food industry, initially purchasing a Humpty Dumpty Snack Foods before acquiring a Boston Pizza franchise in West Island.[1] He was also an owner of the Longueuil Chevaliers and the Victoriaville Tigres.[22] The hockey arena in his hometown of Brownsburg-Chatham was named the Gilles Lupien Arena in his honour in 1985.[23]

Personal life

Lupien had three children: Jennifer, Catherine, and Erik.[1][2] He utilized the C$75,000 signing bonus from his first contract with the Canadiens to purchase shares in a lumber company in Lachute. Consequently, he was able to obtain quality lumber to construct his first home in Pine Hill.[1]

Lupien died on May 18, 2021. He was 67, and suffered from cancer prior to his death.[1][2]

Career statistics

Source: [3][4]

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1971–72 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 3605554 1503317
1972–73 Sherbrooke Castors QMJHL 2605571 —————
1972–73 Montreal Red White and Blue QMJHL 2644866 40000
1973–74 Montreal Red White and Blue QMJHL 4432932268 903328
1974–75 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 736915316 600061
1975–76 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 56268134 904429
1976–77 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 6961622215 1202235
1977–78 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 712310 —————
1977–78 Montreal Canadiens NHL 46134108 800017
1978–79 Montreal Canadiens NHL 721910124 130002
1979–80 Montreal Canadiens NHL 56178109 40002
1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 3101134 —————
1980–81 Binghamton Whalers AHL 1114571 —————
1980–81 Hartford Whalers NHL 2024639 —————
1981–82 Binghamton Whalers AHL 5381220280 1325758
1981–82 Hartford Whalers NHL 10112 —————
AHL Totals 2692449731026 4021113183
NHL Totals 22652530416 2500021

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cowan, Stu (May 18, 2021). "Former Canadiens defenceman Gilles Lupien dies from cancer at age 67". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Canadiens mourn the loss of Gilles Lupien". Montreal Canadiens. May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Gilles Lupien Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Gilles Lupien Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "The Montreal Canadiens Friday traded veteran defenseman Gilles Lupien". United Press International. September 26, 1980. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ MacGregor, Roy (July 25, 2013). "MacGregor: Former agent blames Canucks GM for Luongo drama". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  7. ↑ "NHL notes: Roberto Luongo's ex-agent rips Canucks". The Recorder & Times. Brockville. Agence QMI. July 26, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Canucks match offer for Bernier". National Hockey League. Associated Press. July 8, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  9. ↑ Pap, Elliott (July 7, 2008). "NHL: Vancouver Canucks lock up Steve Bernier as talk turns to Demitra". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  10. ↑ Pope, Ben (August 25, 2020). "Corey Crawford wants to re-sign with Blackhawks, says salary 'not as important' as playing time". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  11. ↑ Isaac, Dave (July 28, 2015). "With 6-year extension, Couturier ready to take next step". Courier-Post. Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  12. ↑ White, Patrick (November 4, 2008). "Sex, Lies & Hockey tape". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ Vallée, Kevin (June 5, 2018). "LHJMQ: Une vieille histoire d'agression sexuelle et une réaction inappropriée du président". Dans les Coulisses (in French). Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  14. ↑ "A union for junior hockey players?". Breakaway. CBC. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ MacLeod, Robert (August 20, 2012). "Junior hockey close to forming a players union". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  16. 1 2 Westhead, Rick (July 9, 2014). "NHLPA urged to help unionize major junior hockey players". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Gilles Lupien est mort". Radio Canada International. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021. (in French)
  18. ↑ Dadoun, Ryan (May 22, 2013). "Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Junior hockey league in war on drugs". CBC News. December 10, 2003. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Naylor, David (December 11, 2003). "Lupien sticks by drug-use story". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  21. ↑ "CHL to introduce league-wide drug testing policy". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. October 24, 2006. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  22. ↑ Morissette, Mario (June 1, 2018). "Gilles Courteau réplique à Gilles Lupien". TVA Sports (in French). Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ Morgan, James (May 16, 2021). "Brownsburg-Chatham, MRC plan to convert Gilles Lupien Arena into outdoor ice rink". The Review. Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
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