Gary Gambucci

Gary Allan "Gubbio" Gambucci (born September 22, 1946 in Hibbing, Minnesota) is an American retired ice hockey forward who played in 51 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars and 112 games for the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association between 1971 and 1976. Internationally Gambucci played for the American national team at four World Championships.

Gary Gambucci
Born	(1946-09-22) September 22, 1946 (age 78) Hibbing, Minnesota, USA
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Minnesota North Stars Minnesota Fighting Saints
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1969–1976

Playing career

Before turning professional, Gambucci excelled as a scorer for the United States national team at the 1969, 1970 and 1971 1971 World Championships as well as the University of Minnesota hockey team. Gambucci was signed as a free agent by the Montreal Canadiens in the spring of 1971 after scoring seven goals in ten games for Team USA at the 1971 world championships in Bern (he was also elected to the tournament all star team at the world championship "Pool B" qualifying tournament in 1970). The Canadiens immediately traded him and Bob Paradise to the North Stars for cash. However, Gambucci failed to become a regular in Minnesota and left the NHL for the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the rival World Hockey Association following the 1973–74 season. Gambucci retired from professional hockey in 1976 after playing 112 WHA regular season games for the Fighting Saints as well as representing the United States at the 1976 World Championships in Katowice, Poland.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1965–66	University of Minnesota	B1G		28	23	17	40	18		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	University of Minnesota	B1G		29	17	10	27	23		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	University of Minnesota	B1G		31	12	29	41	31		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Rochester Mustangs	USHL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	American National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Muskegon Mohawks	IHL		4	2	1	3	5		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Rochester Mustangs	USHL		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	American National Team	Intl		6	3	1	4	4		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	American National Team	Intl		50	51	47	98	30		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		9	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Cleveland Barons	AHL		56	10	11	21	37		6	0	0	0	10
1972–73	Cleveland/Jacksonville Barons	AHL		75	26	50	76	47		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		42	1	7	8	9		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		2	1	2	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Portland Buckaroos	WHL		21	11	15	26	20		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Minnesota Fighting Saints	WHA		67	19	18	37	19		12	4	0	4	6
1974–75	Johnstown Jets	NAHL		7	1	7	8	2		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Minnesota Fighting Saints	WHA		45	10	6	16	14		—	—	—	—	—
WHA totals				112	29	24	53	33		12	4	0	4	6
NHL totals				51	2	7	9	9		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1969	United States	WC		10	1	1	2	6
1970	United States	WC-B		7	11	7	18	4
1971	United States	WC		10	7	3	10	4
1976	United States	WC		10	1	4	5	17
Senior totals				37	20	15	35	31

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Second Team	1965–66
All-WCHA First Team	1967–68
AHCA West All-American	1967–68
United States Hockey Hall of Fame	2006[1]