Mike Bossy, four-time Stanley Cup winner and legendary Canadian hockey player, has died

Set an all-time NHL record, but lost due to illness. The great Mike Bossy has passed away

The legendary Canadian has been an example and a guide for many hockey players.

Sad news came to the hockey world today. Mike Bossy, Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup winner with the New York Islanders, has died aged 65. This was reported by the American journalist Renaud Lavoie.

Unfortunately, Bossy had a serious illness. Last October, the former hockey player himself announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Bossy helped the Islanders win the Stanley Cup four times in a row from 1980 to 1983. The Canadiens scored 573 goals for a total of 1126 (573 goals + 553) points in 10 seasons. Additionally, Bossy won the Calder Trophy for NHL Rookie of the Year in 1978 and the Conn Smythe Trophy for NHL Player of the Year in 1982. He was also awarded the Lady Byng Trophy as an example of wrestling loyalty and gentlemanly behavior three times: in 1983, 1984 and 1986. In 1991, Bossy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

All this only confirms the legendary character of the Canadian player, who for many has become a true icon of sport. And even more so for Canadians, because fans of the “Maple Leaves” treat hockey with special warmth.

Interestingly, Bossy, as a professional player, set a league record that is considered eternal: he scored over 50 goals in nine consecutive seasons (Gretzky had eight in a row), five of which he scored over 60 goals. Turns out Bossy set an eternal NHL record!

Washington Capitals Russian forward Alexander Ovechkin even answered a question about breaking the record of Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy, who have spent the most total seasons (9) with over 50 goals.

“It’s going to be a pretty cool number, again a pretty cool company, if you can repeat it. I just try to do my best, and if I can score 50 goals, that’s great. If not, there’s always next season,” Alexander told the NHL’s official website.

In fact, it was Bossy who was the key player for the Islanders who, thanks to their point guard, won the Stanley Cup four seasons in a row. As noted by experts, the striker had a talent for scoring goals, the most important goals, which made him not only a valuable hockey player for the club, but also extremely popular among fans. A Clark Gillis-Brian Trottier-Mike Bossy tie is rightly considered one of the greatest in NHL history.

mike boss

Photo: Getty Images

This trio impresses with its versatility. The brilliant all-rounder Trottier, the badass Gillis with a killer shot and the virtuoso Bossy – maestro of scoring. Bossy had the fastest hands and fastest sprint of his era. The ability to find free space was the essence of Bossy’s game, key to his success. This cannot be learned, it is the real talent conferred on the athlete from birth.

One cannot help but recall Bossy’s relationship with the Soviet hockey team. So it was the Canadian striker who became the hero of the Canada Cup tournament in 1984, when the hosts fought with the USSR national team. In the extra period of the semifinal match, the puck from his stick ricocheted into the goal, which was defended by Vladimir Myshkin, as a result of which the Soviet hockey players had to return home. In the final, the Canadian team easily defeated Tre Krunur and regained the trophy of honor.

In general, the hockey family has lost a really cool pro and veteran, whose name is forever etched in the history of the sport loved by millions. Alas, this time the disease turned out to be stronger than the legendary athlete.