Shot Left Role Ice hockey player Career end 1988 Height 1.91 m Position Winger | Playing career Weight 95 kg Children Brianna Bourne Name Clark Gillies Career start 1974 | |
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Played for New York IslandersBuffalo Sabres NHL Draft 4th overall, 1974New York Islanders WHA Draft 37th overall, 1974Edmonton Oilers | ||
Clark gillies talking about whom he feared the most in a fight
Clark "Jethro" Gillies (born April 7, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He provided both physical presence and offensive punch for the National Hockey League's New York Islanders during their four-year run as Stanley Cup champions. In a career that spanned 958 games, Gillies notched 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1023 penalty minutes. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.
Contents
- Clark gillies talking about whom he feared the most in a fight
- Clark gillies vs dave schultz round 2
- Playing career
- Personal life
- Career statistics
- References
Clark gillies vs dave schultz round 2
Playing career
Gillies earned his tough reputation in the Canadian junior leagues, earning 570 penalty minutes in 201 games with the Regina Pats. In 1974, Gillies and the Pats won the Memorial Cup. Later that year, the Islanders made him their first round selection in the NHL draft, taking him fourth overall. Gillies was also selected by the World Hockey Association's Edmonton Oilers in the WHA draft, but Gillies signed with the Islanders, making the team right out of training camp. It was during his rookie season of 1974–1975, in the playoffs, that Gillies established himself as one of the toughest players in the National Hockey League (NHL), pummeling Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Dave Schultz.
Gillies scored over 30 goals for four straight seasons as part of the "Trio Grande", the Islanders' top forward line with Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, and was named to the NHL's All-Star Team twice.
In the latter half of the 1976-77 NHL season, Gillies was named team captain; however, in spite of Gillies' articulate speaking manner and amiable nature, he never felt completely comfortable as captain and it affected his play adversely in big games. Gillies captained the Islanders through two disappointing seasons in his two-year stint as captain, in part because the Islanders appeared to lack team toughness. During the pre-season of 1979–1980 Gillies allowed Denis Potvin to take over as captain.
During the 1980 playoffs, Gillies got the best of Terry O'Reilly, one of the Boston Bruins toughest players, several times, helping to fuel the Islanders' drive to the Stanley Cup. 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. Gillies, now totally comfortable with his role with the team, prospered individually and collectively, as the Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cups during Gillies' tenure.
Gillies was a solid skater, possessed a great shot, passed the puck well, back-checked, and developed an uncommon hockey savvy through the championship years with the Islanders. Gillies never exceeded 100 penalty minutes during any NHL regular season.
Gillies' swan song may have been during the 1983–1984 playoffs. After struggling through the regular season, he came alive in the playoffs, leading the Stanley Cup runners-up in scoring for that playoff year.
After scoring only four goals in 55 games in 1985–86, Gillies was left unprotected in the NHL waiver draft, and the Buffalo Sabres picked him up. He wore No. 90 in Buffalo. Gillies retired after playing a season and a half with the Sabres. On December 7, 1996, Gillies' No. 9 was retired by the Islanders. In 2002 Gillies was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Personal life
In 1982 Gillies and three teammates — Bob Nystrom, Wayne Merrick, and Gordie Lane — stripped to their briefs in the February issue of Penthouse magazine for a fashion layout.
Gillies who was honoured by the Islanders on December 13, 2014, remains active in the Long Island community. He is an executive at Hilton Capital Management in Garden City. He plays in 30 to 40 charity softball games per year. He is married to Pam, who is also from Moose Jaw. They live in Greenlawn, New York.
He is the father-in-law to his former teammate's son, and current assistant coach of the Toronto Marlies Justin Bourne.
Despite having the same last name and playing for the same team, Clark Gillies is not related to former Islanders enforcer Trevor Gillies. Clark is the uncle of Colton Gillies.