Gino Odjick grew up on the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation reserve near Maniwaki, Quebec. As a young hockey player he learned to play from his father Joseph Odjick and spent countless hours on the local outdoor rink. The Maniwaki Arena was named after him years later.

Gino was drafted in the fifth round and 86th overall at the 1990 NHL Draft. He was called up to the Vancouver Canucks later that year, and made an immediate impact.

Gino played in the NHL from 1990 to 2002, including eight years in Vancouver, two in Montreal and also with the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers.

In his career he had 64 goals, 73 assists and 2,567 penalty minutes in 605 regular season games. In the 1993-94 season he had a career high of 16 goals and 13 assists.

He had a faithful following of fans who valued his physical toughness play and contributions to the Indigenous community. It was common for the fans to yell "Gino, Gino" often during his regular season games and 44 playoff games with Vancouver and Montreal.

Gino was a key member of the 1994 Canucks team that lost the Stanley Cup in Game 7 of the final against the New York Rangers.

The 2,127 penalty minutes he amassed as a Canuck was the most in franchise history.

He retired from the NHL in 2002 due to heart health issues.

He was awarded the 2015 Inspire Award for his contributions to the NHL and as a positive role model to Indigenous youth. This was one of the highest honors from the Canadian indigenous community. He was also inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.

Gino died at the age of 52 years old on January 15, 2023 from complications related to Amyloidosis, a disease he was diagnosed with in 2014 that affected his organs and heart.

University Canada West (UCW) in downtown Vancouver offered The Gino Odjick Grant, a full-tuition scholarship valued at over $40,000. Named after Canucks legend Gino Odjick, this award is available to qualified Indigenous students—male or female—pursuing an undergraduate degree or an MBA at UCW starting this September.

This scholarship honors Gino's legacy as a hockey powerhouse, leader, and mentor, providing an Indigenous hockey player the chance to achieve higher education beyond the rink. This scholarship reflects his legacy, fierce determination, and unwavering support to his community and teammates.