He played junior for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 1978 to 1981. The Pittsburgh Penguins chose him 28th overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Gatzos split the next four years between the Penguins and the minor pros. He then sat out a couple of seasons due to injuries. Gatzos made a comeback in Europe in 1987-88. He played four seasons in four different countries and then played the end of the 1990-91 season with the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, when he retired. He coached the Roanoke Valley Rampage in 1992-93 and the Huntsville Blast in 1993-94.