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The Brothers Cavallini

Gino played a year at St. Mikes with the Buzzers, then headed to Bowling Green University on a scholarship. After two years, the Calgary Flames signed him as a free agent, and he immediately made an impact when he got to the team, scoring six goals in 27 games and providing energy and physical play.

After two partial seasons with the Flames, Cavallini was traded with Eddie Beers and Charlie Bourgeois to St. Louis for Joey Mullen, Terry Johnson, and Rik Wilson. He remained a Blues for more than years.

During those years (1986-92), the Blues made the playoffs each year and re-established the franchise as a competitive, winning one. Cavallini hit or came near the 20-goal mark for a while, though toward the end of his time in St. Louis his production dropped off. Midway through 1991-92 he was put on waivers and Quebec picked him up for a season and a half, and then Cavallini was sent to the IHL.

He continued to play, for three years, but rather than end his days in the minor pros he ventured to Europe where he continues to play year after year, enjoying a different culture and playing the game he loves, fewer games, fewer dollars, fewer pressures.

Gino, his wife Katia and their two sons Aidan and Max currently live in Milwaukee. Aidan is eight and Max is two. Aidan plays hockey in Milwaukee and has also played in Austria.

Although he still talks frequently with his brother, he has not been back to St. Louis in two years. That is because of his busy hockey life in Europe. After finishing his NHL career with the Quebec Nordiques, he played three years with the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL and then went on to play in the German Elite League for the Landshut Cannibals. In the 1996-97 season he had 61 points. He then played in Austria and is now gearing up for this season when he will play in Switzerland. As you can see he still makes hockey a big part of life.

When asked what his favorite moments with the Blues were, Gino answered, "When I scored an overtime goal against Chicago in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Game 6 of the Conference Finals on the Monday night. I don't think anyone sat down after the second period. That was a great game and very memorable. Also, I loved being able to play with my brother for four years. That was a rare opportunity and we enjoyed every minute of it. Our parents really loved it too."

Left Wing
Born Nov 24 1962 -- Toronto, ONT
Height 6.01 -- Weight 215 -- Shoots L

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1982-83	Bowling Green State University	NCAA	40	8	16	24	52
1983-84	Bowling Green State University	NCAA	43	25	23	48	16
1984-85	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL	51	29	19	48	28	--	--	--	--	--
1984-85	Calgary Flames	NHL	27	6	10	16	14	3	0	0	0	4
1985-86	Moncton Golden Flames	AHL	4	3	2	5	7	--	--	--	--	--
1985-86	Calgary Flames	NHL	27	7	7	14	26	--	--	--	--	--
1985-86	St. Louis Blues	NHL	30	6	5	11	36	17	4	5	9	10
1986-87	St. Louis Blues	NHL	80	18	26	44	54	6	3	1	4	2
1987-88	St. Louis Blues	NHL	64	15	17	32	62	10	5	5	10	19
1988-89	St. Louis Blues	NHL	74	20	23	43	79	9	0	2	2	17
1989-90	St. Louis Blues	NHL	80	15	15	30	77	12	1	3	4	2
1990-91	St. Louis Blues	NHL	78	8	27	35	81	13	1	3	4	2
1991-92	St. Louis Blues	NHL	48	9	7	16	40	--	--	--	--	--
1991-92	Quebec Nordiques	NHL	18	1	7	8	4	--	--	--	--	--
1992-93	Quebec Nordiques	NHL	67	9	15	24	34	4	0	0	0	0
1993-94	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL	78	43	35	78	64	4	3	4	7	6
1994-95	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL	80	53	35	88	54	15	7	2	9	10
1995-96	Milwaukee Admirals	IHL	82	43	39	82	20	5	3	1	4	2
1996-97	Landshut EV	DEL	48	25	29	54	32
1997-98	Landshut EV	DEL	48	12	18	30	320
1998-99	Heraklith VSV EC	Aust	34	29	33	62	32
1999-00	Heraklith VSV EC	Alpen	32	25	38	63	6
	NHL Totals		593	114	159	273	507	74	14	19	33	56

The younger brother of Gino, Paul's NHL career was almost a match, though rather than a second career in the minors and Europe, Paul retired after he knew his NHL career was over.

Drafted a lowly 205th overall by Washington in 1984, Cavallini had just one year of college before turning pro and joining the Caps farm team in Binghampton toward the end of the 1985-86 season. The next year he saw some action with the Caps, and the year after he made the team full-time. However, after just 24 games, Washington game up on him, sending him to St. Louis for a 2nd-round draft choice.

Of course, the Blues wanted Paul so he could play with brother Gino, and he proved a very reliable defenceman in his own end with fine offensive abilities as well. Early in 1992-93 the Caps re-acquired him only to send him to Dallas over the summer in 1993.

Cavallini played two years with the Stars, but after just eight games in 1995-96 retired from the NHL after 564 games.

Paul, his wife Tracy and their nine year-old son Zack and six year-old son Reid live in St. Louis. I asked him who made the choice to move back to St. Louis and he responded, "My wife did, actually. I had made her move with me so many times during my hockey career that I left the decision up to her. I asked her where she would like to live and she said St. Louis. She has a lot of friends here and really liked the city so we came back and we love it here!"

While playing with the Blues Paul became licensed as a financial consultant and now works for A.G. Edwards. He is a board member for the Webster Groves Hockey Association and he coaches his kids' hockey teams. Paul has Blues season tickets and noticed the changes that have taken place since he played in the NHL, just four years ago, "The guys are bigger, stronger and faster. The level of play has gotten quicker since I played hockey."

Like his brother Gino, Paul stated that on a personal level, his best moments as a Blue was being able to play on the same team as his brother. "My parents were really excited that we were playing on the same team, almost as much as Gino and I were. Another personal moment would be in 1990 when I won the plus-minus award with a +38. On a team level, I had a lot of fun playing during the 1990-91 season when the Blues organization had put together one of the best clubs they had ever had. We were a really strong team that year."

The answer to my final question to Paul, 'Do you miss playing the game?', was surprising. "No, I don't, not at all. The game was good to me and I am very thankful for that, but even though I retired earlier than most players, I enjoy having the time with my family. It was time to move on and I am happy right where I am now."

Defense
Born Oct 13 1965 -- Toronto, ONT
Height 6.01 -- Weight 210 -- Shoots L
Selected by Washington Capitals round 10 #205 overall 1984 NHL Entry Draft

			Regular Season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1984-85	Providence College	NCAA	45	5	14	19	64
1985-86	Canadian National Team	Intl	52	1	11	12	95
1985-86	Binghamton Whalers	AHL	15	3	4	7	20	6	0	2	2	56
1986-87	Binghamton Whalers	AHL	66	12	24	36	188	13	2	7	0	35
1986-87	Washington Capitals	NHL	6	0	2	2	8	--	--	--	--	--
1987-88	Washington Capitals	NHL	24	2	3	5	66	--	--	--	--	--
1987-88	St. Louis Blues	NHL	48	4	7	11	86	10	1	6	7	26
1988-89	St. Louis Blues	NHL	65	4	20	24	128	10	2	2	4	14
1989-90	St. Louis Blues	NHL	80	8	39	47	106	12	2	3	5	20
1990-91	St. Louis Blues	NHL	67	10	25	35	89	13	2	3	5	20
1991-92	St. Louis Blues	NHL	66	10	25	35	95	4	0	1	1	6
1992-93	St. Louis Blues	NHL	11	1	4	5	10	--	--	--	--	--
1992-93	Washington Capitals	NHL	71	5	8	13	46	6	0	2	2	18
1993-94	Dallas Stars	NHL	74	11	33	44	82	9	1	8	9	4
1994-95	Dallas Stars	NHL	44	1	11	12	28	5	0	2	2	6
1995-96	Dallas Stars	NHL	8	0	0	0	6	--	--	--	--	--
	NHL Totals		564	56	177	233	750	69	8	27	35	114

Life after hockey; what does it involve and is it really after hockey? That is the question that I tried to answer while talking with Gino and Paul Cavallini. Do NHL alumni really leave hockey behind once they retire? Do they play in other leagues or get into coaching, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, do they move on to something else that they have always wanted to do and put hockey in the background? After talking with Gino and Paul, I received completely different viewpoints on life after hockey.

For Gino, hockey is still very much a part of his life, while Paul is pursuing other interests one thing is sure, the days they spent together in St. Louis will always be great memories.

Sara D. Gilliam. The Cavallini Brothers. Gino Cavallini and Paul Cavallini. St. Louis Blues Online.

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