Guido Tenesi


Guido Rocco Tenesi is a former ice hockey defenseman who played seven seasons of professional hockey from 1973 to 1980. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 5th round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, and was also drafted by the Toronto Toros in the 9th round of the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.

Career

Tenesi played in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears. He played ten games with the Bears during the 1973-74 season, but was not with the team when the Bears won their fifth Calder Cup in team history. He also played in the International Hockey League, Central Hockey League and the North American Hockey League.
Tenesi would spend the final years of his career playing in Italy's Serie A, the premier ice hockey league of Italy. He played for Italy in the 1982 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Helsinki, Finland, leading Italy to a 7th-place finish. Tenesi scored Italy's first goal vs the USA on April 16, 1982 in a 7-5 win. Aside from a secondary assist in a match vs Canada, Tenesi was held scoreless for the remainder of the tournament.

Acting

Tenesi was one of several Johnstown Jets players who were cast in the movie Slap Shot. He was cast as Billy Charlebois, a defenseman on the team who was popular with the ladies and would always find time to check himself out in a mirror. Although in real life he was born in Detroit, Tenesi's character is said to be from "Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan" during one of the Chiefs' fashion shows.
Tenesi was one of three primary characters on the Jets' roster to not have a speaking part.

Personal

In 1988, Tenesi retired from professional hockey. He returned to Toronto, where he became a service technician for a major swimming pool dealer.

Awards