Gord Dineen was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round of the 1981 Entry Draft, 42nd overall, from the Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. He spent two years with the Greyhounds, including playing for the powerhouse 1980-81 team that included John Goodwin, Doug Shedden, and Steve Gatzos. But, the young Kitchener Rangers ousted the club from the playoffs, a team led by future NHL stars Brian Bellows, Al MacInnis, and Kevin Stevens.
Dineen got his first taste of NHL action in 1982-83 when dressed for two games. For the next two years he was used sparingly on the Islanders before assuming a full-time role with the club for the 1986-87 season. Late in the 1987-88 campaign he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, but he lasted just 13 games.
Dineen spent four years with the Pittsburgh Penguins but was not able to crack the lineup more than ten games in the final two years. He had a brief 32-game stopover with the Ottawa Senators in 1992-93 and played with them for 77 games the following season, picking up 21 assists.
In 1994-95 Dineen played his final nine games in the NHL with the New York Islanders, the team where it all started 12 years earlier. He continued to play with the Utah Grizzlies of the IHL until the end of the 1999-00 season.
Dineen is the son of Bill Dineen and the brother of Peter and Kevin, all of whom made it to the NHL.
