The New York Islanders announced in a press release that Hockey Hall of Famer Clark Gillies has died at the age of 67.
Posted at 9:04 a.m.
The Islanders made the announcement on Friday evening and the cause of death has not yet been identified.
“The entire Islanders community is devastated by the passing of Clark Gillies,” said team president and CEO Lou Lamoriello. He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islanders player. The pride he felt wearing that jersey on the ice was evident in his willingness to do whatever it takes to win. »
“Off the rink, he was just as present and always made time to give back to the local community. The New York Islanders have won the Stanley Cup four times because of the sacrifices he and other members of those teams have made for the organization. On behalf of the Islanders, we offer our deepest condolences to the entire Gillies family,” Lamoriello added.
A native of Moose Jaw, Sask., Gillies was a member of the Islanders from the 1974-75 to 1985-86 season. He was selected by the team fourth overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft.
With the Islanders, Gillies played 872 games, registering 304 goals and 359 assists for a total of 663 points. He is in the top 5 of the team’s history in these categories. He played in 159 playoff games, scoring 47 goals and 93 points.
Gillies was one of 17 Islanders players to win four straight Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983. He was also a member of the squad that won 19 straight series, which is an NHL record that stands still today.
Gillies was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. He represented the Islanders in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game and was named to the NHL First Team All-Star in 1978 and 1979. Its number 9 was retired on December 7, 1996 and the banner now sits high above the brand new UBS Arena.
Gillies was not only a giant on the ice, but also in the Long Island community. He started the Clark Gillies Foundation, a non-profit corporation created to help children who have physical, developmental or financial difficulties. The foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of life, while all profits go directly to people in need. The pediatric unit at Huntington Hospital is named after Gillies and his foundation, who raised US$1 million to help fund the construction of the unit.
The foundation continues its association with the hospital, having established Brianna’s Cub room within the pediatric unit and establishing the Clark Gillies pediatric emergency room, which is specifically equipped for children.