what is amyloidosis, the condition that killed gino odjick?

the beloved former vancouver canuck was initially given only weeks to live when he was first diagnosed with amyloidosis in 2014.

by maija kappler

published jan 16, 2023

last updated jan 18, 2023

2 minute read

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2 minute read

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gino odjick dead at 52 following diagnosis of amyloidosis

march 31 1991.. vancouver canucks assistant coach jack mcilhargey (left) shares joke with gino odjick. (mark van manen / vancouver sun)

gino odjick, a former vancouver canucks hockey player and a fan favourite, has died at 52. his sister dina odjick confirmed his death on sunday. “our hearts are broken. my brother gino odjick has left us for the spirit world,” she wrote on facebook.

the vancouver canucks also paid tribute on their social media channels. “gino was a fan favourite from the moment he joined the organization, putting his heart and soul into every shift on and off the ice,” francesco aquilini, the team’s chairman and governor, said in a statement posted to twitter.

odjick had a rare disease called amyloidosis, which involves an abnormal protein, called amyloid, that accumulates in the tissue and organs. it impacts organ function, and can lead to organ failure and deaeth. he was diagnosed in 2014, and was told he likely had only weeks to live.

he explained his diagnosis in an open letter to his fans in 2014. “my spirit is strong even if my body isn’t,” he wrote. “i’m going to use all of my time to be with my kids and everyone i love.”

the late gino odjick, centre, gets up out of a wheelchair and waves to hundreds of fans that gathered to support him outside vancouver general hospital in 2014. [png merlin archive]

he also talked about how much he loved being a canuck.

“i feel very fortunate for my life,” he wrote. “during my career i played in some great nhl cities including, vancouver, long island, philadelphia and montreal. in my heart, i will always be a canuck and i have always had a special relationship here with the fans. your ‘gino, gino’ cheers were my favourite. i wish i could hear them again. you have been amazing.”

he received experimental treatments for his amyloidosis in ottawa, and also underwent chemotherapy. chemo is a common treatment for the condition: it interferes with fast-dividing cells in the body, columbia medicine explains. in patients with amyloidosis, chemotherapy can destroy abnormal plasma that results in amyloid deposits.

odjick’s treatments were incredibly effective, given his prognosis. so his death at only 52 was a distressing surprise to many of the people close to him.

“i was shocked,” former canucks teammate geoff courtnall told the province. “i knew that he obviously had health issues, but he looked so good at the rink when i saw him last month. he wasn’t moving well with the issues he had with his leg (infection), but he had good energy and was positive.”

maija kappler is a reporter and editor with healthing.

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