Unfortunately, Clark Gillies has sadly passed away on January 22, 2022. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. When you saw Clark Gillies, you thought Islander. He was a Business Development Manager at Protective Wealth Consultants in Huntington, New York. Sununu pushes back on DeSantis crusade against woke corporations: Thats not what Republicans are about, At least 10 dead as storms lash the US, leaving millions without power, 9 intimate relationships you might have missed from Spare, Every Major Greys Anatomy Character Who Has Been Killed Off, Ranked from First to Most Recent, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UklV54RvGq0&t=55s. "I went down and hit my face on the ice. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. From 1980 to 1983 he was a key part of the teams dynasty that won four-straight Stanley Cups. Your email address will not be published. Gillies most famously showed his mettle during the 1980 playoffs against the Bruins. He played with a local team in Moose Jaw until it ceased operation. All Rights Reserved. In Game 1 against the Bruins, a close, tense affair in the tight, raucous confines of the Boston Garden, he brought that characteristic clutch scoring ability -- over his career, he scored an amazing 54 game-winning goals -- finding the back of the net at 1:02 of overtime to give the Islanders a 2-1 win and a stunning 1-0 series lead. When you think of the dynastic New York Islanders of the 1980s, you likely think of the scoring wizardry of Mike Bossy, the playmaking prowess of Bryan Trottier, the puck-rushing brilliance of Denis Potvin, even the stick-swinging crease curmudgeonry of Billy Smith. Your email address will not be published. Is he alive or dead? "We send our deepest condolences to his family and his countless friends and fans.". Heartbroken, too, is his Clark Gillies was 67 years of age at the time of his death, as he was born on April 7, 1954, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. "My heart dropped when I was told coming off the ice. He was 67. The Huntington Hospital Pediatric Unit was also named after Gillies and his foundation, which raised $1 million dollars to aid in the building's construction. "The goal of the foundation is to improve the quality of life with 100% of the proceeds going straight to people in need," the NHL said. Required fields are marked *. Here's two Saskatchewan boys sitting there together, and we both scored overtime goals.". Charismatic. Playoff ineptitude hung over the club as it entered the post-season. Performance & security by Cloudflare. I said, I will beat the (crap) out of every one of you unless you give me a dollar apiece, Gillies told NHL.com. account that can be used to sign in here. A penalty against the home team, he'd throw away a white marble. Gillies created The Clark Gillies Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that assists physically, developmentally, and/or financially challenged children. "He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islander. O'Reilly remembers a great competitor whom he calls "a reluctant warrior," a player who never gave nor asked for an inch. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Been there, done that. Gillies was also selected by the World Hockey Association's Edmonton Oilers in the WHA draft, but signed with the Islanders, making the team out of training camp. How he died was not stated so we are waiting for a statement from the family. Promote Kenny Yeboah (@tony_cang) January 22, 2022. [3] He platooned at first base in 1972 with future Islander teammate Bob Bourne. He's got a beautiful family and he's done so much for the community with his foundation that we've been lucky enough to be a part of over the years, and he'll forever live on inside this organization. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. "He lived and breathed Islanders hockey. And, tellingly, occasionally his forgiveness extended to the ice as well. Once asked where his native Moose Jaw, Sask., is, he responded, "Six feet from the moose's ass.". In the following post, they stated their misery after learning the sudden demise of the legendary power-forward and Hockey Hall of Fame member Clark Gillies. A member of an Islanders dynasty that won four Life After Hockey. The team did not say where Gillies died and did not provide a cause of death, according to The Associated Press. Gillies was used during this series as the Islanders' chief protector and enforcer, and in taking on this role, Gillies allowed his team to battle through a violent series with the Bruins. As one of the bigger players on the ice, he was often engaged in fights with players on other teams, which he felt added to the fun of playing. Nicknamed "Jethro" after a character from "The Beverly Hillbillies," Gillies was shown on the video board at Nassau Coliseum during the playoffs last year chugging a beer and crushing the can against his head. Season after season, they would run roughshod over the competition, only to be pushed around and cast aside in the playoffs to provide another troubling and disappointing upset. "Where's Moose Jaw?" On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Gillies family. [10] He was a business development manager at Protective Wealth Consultants in Huntington, New York. Gillies won four Stanley Cups with the New York All indications are that he was a kind, considerate and charitable man off the ice. Retirement following the 1987-88 season wasn't an easy decision. Is he alive or dead? "He was bigger than life. Clark Gillies Health: Cause of Death Revealed Clark, a former ice hockey player from Canada, has blown everyones mind with his dying stories. He, along with Ken Morrow, John Tonelli, Denis Potvin and Butch Goring, started the NHL tradition of playoff beards. "That's when I was told I'd been elected to the Hall of Fame," Gillies recalled during his Hall of Fame induction ceremony. [10] He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Hockey Category with the Class of 1998. It's a sad day.". His death news was officially declared by The New York Islanders some moments ago. But his teammates loved him. Hall of Fame winger Clark Gillies, who led the New York Islanders to four straight Stanley Cup championships during the early 1980s, has died, the team announced Friday. Gillies' nickname, "Jethro", came from teammate Ed Westfall, based on the character Jethro Bodine in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies. "Back then, the referee would start out with a dozen black marbles in one pocket and a dozen white marbles in the other pocket. Flyers GM: Red Wings nixed van Riemsdyk trade, Avs' Makar OK'd to return 2nd time from protocol, Wild acquire defenseman Klingberg from Ducks, Sabres add size up front, get Greenway from Wild, Penguins acquire defenseman Kulikov from Ducks, Sources: No discipline for Watson hit on Motte, Surging Bruins fastest to 100 pts. Gillies and OReilly fought twice more in Game 3 back on Long Island, culminating with Gillies demolishing OReilly. Your email address will not be published. There was no gray area. Nicholas Rice is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. Gillies never fought by choice, but he understood the value of a clenched fist when liberties were taken with teammates. We are currently unaware of the actual reason behind the players death. Back in 2002, Gillies was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame. [21], He was married to Pam, who is also from Moose Jaw. Meet Rick Barnes Wife, Children And Family, Ana Ortiz Husband Noah Lebenzon Relationship: Age Gap & Children Paloma Louise Lebenzon And Rafael Lebenzon. ", NHL.com deputy managing editor Brian Compton contributed to this report. Gillies was selected by the Islanders in the first round of the 1974 NHL Entry Draft, where he was chosen fourth overall. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. Clarkie's always gone out of his way to welcome players into the organization. He played in 30 to 40 charity softball games per year. As he recounted for NHL.com, Gillies once fell for a team prank when all 20 of the Islanders signed a new pair of shoes he had been particularly proud of. One of 17 players on the team that won the four Cups from 1980 to 1983 and an NHL-record 19 consecutive postseason series, he had 47 goals and 46 assists in 159 playoff games. Those shoes cost $20 and every one of you needs to give me a dollar right now or I am going to start beating the crap out of each and every one of you one at a time. In about five minutes, I had $20 in my hand and a pair of signed shoes to the 1980 Stanley Cup champions. Lightning, Gillies' death big loss to teammate Bourne, O'Reilly: Gillies was 'reluctant warrior'. His first death news was posted by Promote Kenny Yeboah at around 7:35 a.m. Select additional sports and leagues youre interested in from the list below. Off the ice, he was just as big of a presence, always taking the time to give back to the local community. Despite being one of the toughest players of his time, Gillies never had 100 penalty minutes in a season; his NHL high was 99 in 1980-81, when he scored 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists). The Islanders announced Everything that you think about an Islander, being a good teammate, fantastic person, all those things. "The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Clark Gillies, a tower of strength on the ice for the dynastic New York Islanders of the early 1980s and a pillar of the Long Island community ever since," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. Clark Gillies cheers on the Islanders on June 23, 2021, the last game at the team's Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Starting skating around the age of four, Gillies father insisted he learn to skate and keep his balance before allowing him to bring a hockey stick onto the ice. On Friday, the National Hockey League (NHL) announced Gillies' death in a statement from commissioner Gary Bettman. ". We played the Rangers at Shea Stadium and the Flyers at Veterans Stadium down there, Gillies told NewYorkIslanders.com in 2017. I do remember almost hitting a softball out of Shea down the left-field line. Gillies was given a hero's welcome when he touched down in Moose Jaw, larger than life as he had been growing up and as he remains to this day. With the Islanders, he scored 304 goals and had 359 assists in 872 games over 12 seasons. Similarly, there was no such news that had been published with reference to his health issues and Gillies having cancer. "The pride he felt wearing the Islanders sweater on the ice was evident by his willingness to do anything to win. We use cookies to improve your experience. His first death news was posted by Promote Kenny Yeboah at around 7:35 a.m. He walks into a room, he's charismatic, he carries a room. By 1979-80, the clock was running down on the Islanders potential. Gillies was one of 17 Islanders players who won four straight Stanley Cup championships from 1980-83. Clark Gillies dead, Canadian former professional ice hockeyplayer https://t.co/rkFcr7sVOg. The player had always remained pretty private about his personal life.
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