Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion Clark Gillies of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan passed away on Friday at the age of 67 according to the National Hockey League. Gillies won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders in 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1983 in his 12 seasons with the Islanders from 1974 to 1986. He also played two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres from 1986 to 1988.
In 958 NHL regular season games, Gillies had 319 goals and 378 assists for 697 points. He was a +245 with 1025 penalty minutes, 198 power play points, 44 game-winning goals, and 2253 shots on goal.
Gillies’ finest season came in 1978-79 with the Islanders when he was ninth in NHL scoring with 91 points. He had 35 goals and 56 assists.
Twice Gillies was on the NHL’s first all-star team. The first time came in 1977-78, and the second time came in 1978-79. Also in 1978, he represented the Islanders and the Campbell Conference in the NHL All-Star Game. Remember, the Islanders were part of the Campbell Conference for seven seasons from 1974 to 1980, before joining the Wales Conference for the 1980-81 season. Gillies meanwhile was one of five Canadian Islanders to play in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game. He was joined by right winger Mike Bossy of Montreal, Quebec, defenseman Denis Potion of Ottawa, Ontario, goaltender Billy Smith of Perth. Ontario, and center Bryan Trottier of Val Marie, Saskatchewan.
Gillies entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. At the junior level, he won a Memorial Cup with the Regina Pats in 1974 before being drafted that same year by the Islanders in the fourth round. Gillies also played three years of minor league baseball in the Houston Astros organization as a catcher and first baseman.
