Gillies, Clark (1954-)

Clark Gillies.

Patrick Pettit (Regina Leader-Post)

Recognized for his leadership abilities at the amateur and professional levels of hockey, Clark Gillies was born in Moose Jaw on April 7, 1954. He played three seasons of junior Hockey with the Regina Pats and led the club to the 1974 Memorial Cup championship. Drafted by the New York Islanders, Gillies made the club's roster following an impressive NHL training camp. He played twelve seasons with the Islanders and won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships beginning in 1980. A left-winger, he was teamed with Mike Bossy and fellow Saskatchewanian Bryan Trottier on a high-scoring forward line. As the Islander dynasty made way for the up-and-coming Edmonton Oilers, Gillies was claimed in 1986 by the Buffalo Sabres with whom he remained for two seasons before retiring in 1988. Over fourteen NHL seasons, Clark Gillies tallied 697 points in 958 games. He was named to the First All-Star Team in 1978 and 1979, and was a member of Team Canada at the 1981 Canada Cup. In recognition of his four Stanley Cup wins and his contributions as an Islander, Gillies' number “9” was retired in 1996. He was inducted to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Daria Coneghan, Holden Stoffel