Gilles Gilbert was a professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on January 31, 1949, in Saint-Esprit, Quebec, Canada. Gilbert began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Quebec Remparts in 1966. He played for the Remparts for three seasons, winning the Memorial Cup in 1971.
In 1971, Gilbert was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in the third round of the NHL Amateur Draft. He played for the North Stars for two seasons before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 1973. Gilbert played for the Bruins for five seasons, from 1973 to 1978. During his time with the Bruins, he was part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1976.
In 1978, Gilbert was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 1983. Gilbert was known for his quick reflexes and his ability to make acrobatic saves.
Throughout his career, Gilbert played in 416 NHL games, with a record of 192 wins, 143 losses, and 60 ties. He had a career goals against average (GAA) of 2.88 and a save percentage of .897. Gilbert was also known for his durability, playing in 70 or more games in four different seasons.
After retiring from professional hockey, Gilbert worked as a goaltending coach for several NHL teams, including the Quebec Nordiques, the New York Islanders, and the St. Louis Blues. He also worked as a scout for the Blues and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In 2008, Gilbert was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Boston Bruins Hall of Fame in 2019. Gilbert is remembered as one of the best goaltenders of his era and a key part of the Bruins' Stanley Cup-winning teams in the 1970s.
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