Armand Gaudreault
A Quebec-born hockey forward whose single NHL season with the Boston Bruins was a brief flash in a long career spent dominating senior leagues.
1921–2013 (age 92)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: July 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Armand Gaudreault’s professional hockey journey is a classic tale of the wartime athlete. Hailing from Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, he was a skilled forward whose prime coincided with the manpower shortages of World War II. This opened the door for a 44-game stint with the Boston Bruins during the 1944-45 season, where he contributed 11 points. When regular players returned after the war, Gaudreault, like many of his contemporaries, returned to the robust Quebec Senior Hockey League. There, he found his true home, playing for teams like the Quebec Aces and the Sherbrooke Saints. He was a star in that circuit, known for his scoring touch and playmaking, competing for over a decade against other talented players who formed the backbone of Canadian hockey outside the NHL. His legacy is that of a regional hero, a mainstay in the rinks that were the lifeblood of the sport.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Armand was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Armand Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Armand's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2013Died at 92
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Played 44 games in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins during the 1944–45 season.
- Enjoyed a lengthy professional career spanning from 1940 to 1952 across multiple major senior leagues.
- Was a consistent offensive contributor for teams in the Quebec Senior Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
Did You Know?
He made his NHL debut on November 16, 1944, against the Montreal Canadiens.
His younger brother, Jean Gaudreault, also played professional hockey in the QSHL.
After retiring, he worked for the Quebec liquor board (Régie des alcools).
“I got my shot because half the league was over there.”
