Sad news out of the hockey world on Friday as New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy has died at the age of the age of 65 on Thursday night. Bossy was the main scorer on the Islanders four straight Stanley Cup winning teams of the 1980s. TVA of Canada and the club confirmed the passing Friday morning due to lung cancer.
The New York Islanders are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the greatest pure goal scorer, four-time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Fame member, Mike Bossy. https://t.co/hbyozJ4BUS
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 15, 2022
Mike Bossy Passes of Cancer
Bossy was diagnosed with lung cancer in October and told TVA in a letter. He was working for the French-language network as an analyst. However, he’s most known for being one of the driving forces behind the Islanders championship dynasty. The Montreal native went on to score 573 goals and 553 assists for 1,126 points in 752 career games. New York drafted him in the first round, 15th overall of the 1977 Amateur Draft. He had a decorated career with the Laval National of the QMJHL.
Bossy’s career started off with a bang by winning the Calder Trophy for best rookie with 53 goals in 1977-78. However, he’d follow that up with a career-high 69 goals in the very next season. Bossy would score 60 goals five times in his storied career.
His team would enjoy just as much success as him by winning four consecutive Stanley Cup crowns from 1980 to 1983. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player of the post-season in 1982. Bossy also played in two Canada Cups for this country.
His Legacy
Back problems ended Bossy’s career after the 1986-87 season. He ended up in broadcasting and worked for the Islanders for a short time,
It’s the third loss from that Islanders era this year after fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Clark Gillies died in January and Jean Potvin died in March.
“The New York Islanders organization mourns the loss of Mike Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the entire hockey world,” Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement on the team’s website.
