Career
Cavallini played one year for the Saint Michael"s Buzzers, a Junior hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association (now part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League). Following his short stint with the Buzzers, Cavallini was offered a scholarship to play college hockey for the Bowling Green State University Falcons. He remained with the Falcons for two years (1982–1984).
He is noted for scoring the game-winning goal in the 1984 National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship game, 7:11 into the fourth overtime.
At 97 minutes and 11 seconds, it stands today as one of the longest games in Division I hockey history. Following his two seasons at Bowling Green, the Calgary Flames signed Cavallini as a free agent during the 1984-1985 season.
He would go on to score six goals in 27 games that season. Cavallini played parts of two seasons with the Flames, alternating between the National Hockey League and minor AHL team, the Moncton Golden Flames.
Following his second professional season, he was traded to the Saint Louis Blues as part of a multi-player deal (Cavallini, Editor Beers and Charlie Bourgeois for Joey Mullen, Terry Johnson and Rik Wilson).
While with the Blues, Cavallini served dutifully as the Alternate Captain to Brian Sutter. As part of the Ron Caron-managed franchise from 1986–1992, Cavallini helped provide leadership, enthusiasm and disciplined strength on the ice. During those seasons, the Blues re-established themselves as a competitive force in the Norris Division making the playoffs each year.
During his playing seasons with the Blues, Gino"s brother, defenceman Paul Cavallini also joined the squad.
Referred locally as "The Tank", Cavallini"s grit on the ice was evident throughout his National Hockey League seasons with Calgary (54 games), Saint Louis (454 games) and later with the Quebec Nordiques (85 games). In total he played 593 regular season games, scoring 114 goals and 159 assists for 273 points and collecting 507 penalty minutes.
He also played in 74 playoff games, scoring 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points and collecting 66 penalty minutes. From 1986–1990, Cavallini had his best National Hockey League seasons, recording more than 30 points per season and scoring 20 goals in the 1988-1989 season.
He left the National Hockey League after the 1993 season where he spent 3 seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League.
His commitment to the game helped solidify Cavallini as a leader for the Admirals with impressive stats scoring 139 goals and 248 points in 3 seasons. He then completed his career in Europe, playing primarily in Germany with EV Landshut and Austria with European Commission Villacher before retiring in the 2000-2001 season.
