Guy Chouinard, who scored the first goal in Calgary Flames history, has died at the age of 69. The former NHL forward played 10 seasons with the Atlanta and Calgary Flames and the St. Louis Blues. He amassed 575 points over 578 regular-season games.
Guy Chouinard passed away on Sunday at 69, leaving a legacy in the NHL and junior hockey. Selected by the Atlanta Flames in the second round, 28th overall, of the 1974 NHL Draft, Chouinard entered the league after a stellar junior career with Quebec in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, where he recorded 160 points, including 75 goals and 85 assists, in 62 games during his final season.
Over 10 NHL seasons split between the Atlanta/Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues, Chouinard tallied 575 points with 205 goals and 370 assists in 578 regular-season games. He achieved at least 80 points in three seasons, highlighted by his 1978-79 performance with Atlanta, where he led the team with 50 goals and finished second with 107 points in 80 games. In the playoffs, he contributed 37 points, including nine goals and 28 assists, across 46 games.
A pivotal moment in Flames history came on October 9, 1980, when Chouinard scored the franchise's first goal in Calgary. At 8:45 of the first period, he netted the tally in a 5-5 tie against the Quebec Nordiques at Stampede Corral, marking the team's home opener after relocating from Atlanta. He ranks ninth in Atlanta/Calgary Flames history with 529 points, comprising 193 goals and 336 assists, in 514 games. Chouinard also shares the Flames' single-game record for assists with six, set on February 25, 1981.
After retiring, Chouinard coached for 16 seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, including stints with Quebec, where he guided his son Eric. In recognition of his contributions, Quebec retired his No. 7 jersey in 2016, and he was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in 2025.
