Defenceman John Gibson was a hard-nosed competitor who played parts of four NHL seasons in the early 80s. He was a tough customer who could excel at both ends of the ice but struggled with consistency and discipline as a big leaguer.
Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, the 6'3" Gibson was an imposing force on the OHA's Niagara Falls Flyers for three years. He was chosen 71st overall by the LA Kings in 1979 and played briefly with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets before spending the 1979-80 season with the Saginaw Gears of the IHL. Gibson scored 79 points and was an intimidating deterrent to opposing forwards. In 1980 he was to the first all-star team and won the Governor's trophy as the IHL's top defenceman.
Gibson toiled briefly in LA but was chiefly a farmhand in the organization. In November, 1981 he was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs with Billy Harris for defenceman Ian Turnbull. He played 27 games for his new club before he was relegated to the AHL. After signing as a free agent with the Winnipeg Jets, Gibson spent most of the 1983-84 season with Sherbrooke of the AHL before retiring.
