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. He was 67.
The team did not say where Gillies died and did not provide a cause of death, according to The Associated Press.
Gillies played 14 seasons in the NHL, spending 12 of them with the Islanders from 1974 to 1986. He spent his final two seasons with the Buffalo Sabres.
Gillies, who was selected fourth overall by the Islanders in the 1974 NHL Entry draft, scored 319 goals and had 378 assists in 958 games.
#9, Clark Gillies.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 22, 2022
Always in our hearts. pic.twitter.com/JmO05Ka3Wg
In 872 games with the Islanders, Gillies scored 304 goals, which is fourth in franchise history, NHL.com reported. His 359 assists are fifth in team history, and his 663 points rank fourth. Gillies scored 47 goals and had 46 assists during the postseason and is one of 17 players who were on all four of the Islanders’ Stanley Cup champions from 1980 to 1983.
“The entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss of Clark Gillies,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. “He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islander. The pride he felt wearing the Islanders sweater on the ice was evident by his willingness to do anything to win. Off the ice, he was just as big of a presence, always taking the time to give back to the local community. The New York Islanders have four Stanley Cups because of the sacrifices he and the members of those dynasty teams made for the franchise. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Gillies family.”
Gillies, who was nicknamed “Jethro” after the character on “The Beverly Hillbillies” television show of the 1960s, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. His. No. 9 jersey was retired by the Islanders on Dec. 7, 1996, NHL.com reported.
“I always admired him as a player. But as a person, how he cared about the community and the Islanders,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz told reporters after the team’s 4-0 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Friday. “He was willing to go above and beyond to make sure that the fans got to the next level and the team got to the next level.”
“He was bigger than life. When you saw Clark Gillies, you thought Islander. There was no doubt. He played the right way, he was part of the community. Everything you think about being an Islander. My heart dropped when I was told. He will be missed. He really will.”
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 22, 2022
Trotz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/APxJp5aL2o
©2022 Cox Media Group
