Mike Bossy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mike Bossy
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1991
Bossy with the New York Islanders in 1978
Born	(1957-01-22)January 22, 1957 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	April 15, 2022(2022-04-15) (aged 65) Rosemère, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Islanders
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	15th overall, 1977 New York Islanders
WHA Draft	44th overall, 1977 Indianapolis Racers
Playing career	1977–1987

Mike Bossy was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was born on January 22, 1957, and passed away on April 15, 2022. Mike Bossy played his entire career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Islanders.

He played from 1977 to 1987. Bossy was a key player in the Islanders winning four Stanley Cup championships in a row in the early 1980s. He was known for his amazing goal-scoring ability.

Bossy won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1978 as the best rookie in the NHL. He set a record for most goals by a rookie with 53. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1982 as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Mike Bossy won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times. This award is for players who show great skill and sportsmanship.

He led the NHL in goals twice. He was also second in goals three other times. Bossy was chosen for the league's first all-star team five times. He is one of only two players to score the winning goal in two Stanley Cup Finals in a row (1982 and 1983). He is also the only player to score four game-winning goals in one playoff series (1983).

Mike Bossy holds the NHL record for the highest average goals per regular season game. He is also one of only five players to score 50 goals in 50 games. He shares the record for most 50-goal seasons with Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Ovechkin, with nine each. However, Bossy's nine seasons were all in a row, which is a unique record.

Bossy was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time.

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

Mike Bossy was one of ten children. He grew up in Montreal, Canada, in a family that loved the Detroit Red Wings. His father, Borden, even kept an ice rink in their backyard. This helped Mike practice his hockey skills.

When he was 12, Bossy broke his kneecap. This led to knee problems throughout his hockey career. As a young player, he played in a big pee-wee hockey tournament in Quebec in 1969.

He started his junior hockey career at age 15 with the Laval Titan in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Even though he scored 309 goals in five seasons, some NHL scouts thought he wasn't tough enough. His 532 total points and 309 goals are still records in the QMJHL. His jersey number, 17, has been retired by the Acadie–Bathurst Titan, the team that used to be the Laval franchise.

Becoming an NHL Star

Mike Bossy was an amazing scorer in junior hockey. He averaged 77 goals per season with Laval. But in the 1977 NHL amateur draft, twelve teams passed on him. Some thought he wasn't strong defensively. Others worried about his salary demands. Even the Montreal Canadiens coach, Scotty Bowman, later regretted not picking him.

The New York Islanders finally picked Bossy as the 15th overall choice. Their general manager, Bill Torrey, was convinced by coach Al Arbour and scout Harry Saraceno. They believed it would be easier to teach a great scorer how to play defense.

Bossy in 1978

Bossy joined the Islanders' top line with Bryan Trottier and Clark Gillies. This powerful group became known as "The Trio Grande." He scored his first NHL goal on October 13, 1977. By mid-November, he already had 11 goals.

Rookie Season Success

On February 4, 1978, Bossy scored his first hat trick (three goals in one game). On February 25, he broke the rookie goal record by scoring his 45th goal. Bossy had told Bill Torrey he would score 50 goals. He ended up with 53, setting a new rookie record. This record stood until 1993.

He also led the league with 25 power-play goals. Bossy won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He was also named a Second Team All-Star. He even played in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game.

In the 1978 playoffs, Bossy scored two goals and two assists against Toronto. In a tough Game 6, he was injured but returned for Game 7. The Islanders lost that series.

Leading the League in Goals

In the 1978–79 season, Bossy was again a Second Team All-Star. He led the league with 69 goals, which was the second-highest single-season total ever at the time. On December 23, 1978, the Trio Grande had an amazing night. They combined for 17 points in a 9–4 win against the Rangers. Bossy had a hat trick and three assists.

On February 19, 1979, Bossy scored his 100th goal in just his 129th game. This made him the fastest player to reach that milestone. His 122 goals in his first two seasons were the most by any NHL player. Bossy also played for the NHL All-Stars against the Soviet Union in the 1979 Challenge Cup. He scored a goal against the famous goalie Vladislav Tretiak.

Dynasty Years: Winning the Stanley Cup

The 1979–80 season started slowly for the Islanders. Coach Al Arbour sometimes split up the Trio Grande to try new lines. But Bossy and Trottier still scored most of the team's goals. After the team traded for Butch Goring in March, the Islanders became much stronger. They went unbeaten for the rest of the season. Bossy scored 51 goals that season.

First Stanley Cup Victory

In the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals, the Islanders faced the Philadelphia Flyers. In Game 6, with the Islanders leading the series 3-2, Bossy scored a power-play goal. This gave New York a 3-2 lead. The Islanders won the game and the Stanley Cup in overtime. Bossy led all scorers in the Finals with 11 points. The Islanders won their first Stanley Cup.

50 Goals in 50 Games

In the 1980–81 season, Bossy made history. He and Charlie Simmer were racing to be the first to score 50 goals in 50 games since Maurice Richard 36 years earlier. On January 24, 1981, Bossy scored two goals in the final five minutes of his 50th game. He became the second player ever to achieve 50 goals in 50 games. Maurice Richard himself sent Bossy a congratulatory message.

Bossy finished the season with 68 goals. He set an NHL record with 9 hat tricks that season. He was named a First Team All-Star.

More Stanley Cups

In the 1981 Playoffs, Bossy helped the Islanders sweep the Maple Leafs. They then defeated the Edmonton Oilers in six games. Bossy led all scorers in that series with 11 points. The Islanders then swept the Rangers. They went on to defeat the Minnesota North Stars in the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals. Bossy set records for most points (35) and power-play goals (9) in the playoffs. The Islanders won their second Stanley Cup.

For the 1981–82 season, Bossy signed a new six-year contract. He set records for right-wingers with 83 assists and 147 points. Bossy scored twice in the 1982 NHL All-Star Game and was named the game's MVP. Despite a knee injury, Bossy continued to score in the playoffs.

In the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks, Bossy scored a hat trick in Game 1. He scored the winning goal in overtime. Bossy scored two power-play goals in Game 4, including the winner. New York swept the series for their third Stanley Cup win. Bossy scored 17 playoff goals and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP.

In 1982–83, Bossy became the first player to score at least 60 goals in three seasons in a row. He also had 118 points. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy again for his clean play. Bossy scored nine goals in the Wales Conference Final against the Boston Bruins. This included an NHL record of four game-winning goals. The Islanders then swept the Oilers in the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals. Bossy scored the winning goal in Game 4. He became the second player to score Stanley Cup-winning goals in two consecutive years. This marked the Islanders' fourth straight Stanley Cup.

Later Career and Retirement

In the 1983–84 NHL season, Bossy continued to set records. On January 15, he scored his 400th career regular season goal. He reached this milestone in only 506 games, making him the fastest to do so. He finished the season with 51 goals, his seventh straight season with at least 50. Bossy was named a First Team All-Star for the fourth year in a row. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy again.

In the 1984 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bossy scored four goals against the Canadiens. The Islanders reached their fifth straight Stanley Cup Final. However, Bossy missed Game 1 of the Finals due to tonsillitis. When he returned, he struggled to score. The Oilers won their first Stanley Cup, ending the Islanders' dynasty.

Setting More Records

Bossy started the 1984–85 NHL season strong. He scored in ten consecutive games, tying his own team record. He finished the season with 58 goals. This was his eighth straight season with 50 or more goals. In the playoffs, Bossy tied Maurice Richard's record for career playoff goals with 82.

In the 1985–86 NHL season, Bossy reached several milestones. On January 2, 1986, he became the fastest player to reach 500 goals in NHL history. He did this in his 647th game. On January 24, Bossy got his 1,000th regular season point. His four-goal game against Calgary on March 11 included his 50th goal of the year. This made it a record-setting ninth straight season with at least 50 goals. He scored his 61st goal in the last game of the season. This completed his record fifth season with at least 60 goals.

Bossy was named a First Team All-Star and won the Lady Byng Trophy for the third time.

Battling Injuries

At the start of the 1986–87 season, Bossy had back pain. He played through the pain, but it affected his game. He missed several games in January due to the back pain. Doctors believed he was putting strain on his back because of an old knee injury from childhood.

Bossy hoped to score 50 goals for a tenth straight season, but the pain increased. He finished the season with 38 goals. In the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bossy returned for Game 1. He scored a power-play goal. But he then injured his left knee in Game 2 and missed the rest of the series. The Islanders were eventually eliminated.

Bossy tried to recover from his back injury. Doctors found two damaged discs in his lower back that surgery could not fix. He sat out the 1987–88 season for therapy. He officially retired in October 1988. Mike Bossy played his last game at the young age of 30. He scored 573 goals and 553 assists in 752 NHL games, all with the Islanders.

The Islanders retired Bossy's jersey number, No. 22, on March 3, 1992. He was the second Islander to receive this honor.

Legacy and Impact

Mike Bossy had amazing statistics despite his career being cut short. He scored 573 goals and had 553 assists in just 752 games. In 129 playoff games, he had 85 goals and 75 assists. When he retired, he held the record for most goals per season average with 57.3.

Bossy was known for his incredible shooting accuracy. He once said, "About 90 percent of the time I don't aim: I just try to get my shot away as quick as possible as a surprise element." He was also known for his clean play. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy three times for his sportsmanship. He often spoke out against violence in hockey.

Bossy wanted to be seen as the best player of his time. However, awards like the Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) and Art Ross Trophy (scoring leader) went to players like Guy Lafleur, Bryan Trottier, and Wayne Gretzky. Bossy is often compared to Lafleur. Both were great goal-scorers, but Lafleur was known for his skating, while Bossy was known for his precise shooting.

Even though the Islanders won four straight Stanley Cups, Bossy felt they didn't get enough recognition. He believed teams like the Oilers and Canadiens received more attention for their dynasties.

After Hockey

After his playing career, Bossy could not play hockey or work out much due to his back and knee problems. He returned to Laval with his family. He worked in business, including with a hockey stick manufacturer. He also became a broadcaster for the Quebec Nordiques.

In the 1990s, Bossy worked in radio in Montreal. He was known for his funny personality. Later, he worked in public relations for food companies. He also became an ambassador for Hockey Canada's Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey program.

In 2006, Bossy rejoined the Islanders organization. He worked with the team's front office. In 2014, he became a hockey analyst for MSG Networks. In 2015, he joined TVA Sports as a color commentator for NHL games.

In Popular Culture

In 1982, a prototype pinball machine called Mike Bossy the Scoring Machine was made.

In 1985, Bossy and other NHL all-stars appeared in the music video for "Tears Are Not Enough". This was a Canadian charity song. Bossy joked that his "fantasy is to be a singer."

In 2005, Bossy played himself in the movie Les Boys 4. He also helped as a consultant for The Raccoons on Ice. In that animated TV special, a character wears an Islanders jersey with Bossy's number 22.

Accomplishments and Records

Mike Bossy holds several Islanders team records. He is the all-time regular season goals leader with 573. He also leads the team in career playoff goals with 85. He holds the team's single-season record for playoff goals, which he achieved three times.

As of 2022, Bossy holds or shares the following NHL records:

• Most consecutive 50+ goal seasons: 9
• Most 50+ goal seasons (not necessarily consecutive): 9 (tied with Wayne Gretzky)
• Most 60+ goal seasons (not necessarily consecutive): 5 (tied with Wayne Gretzky)
• Highest goals-per-game average, career (minimum 200 total goals): .762 goals per game
• Most power-play goals, one playoff season: 9 (tied with Cam Neely)
• Most consecutive hat tricks: 3 (tied with Joe Malone)
• In January 2017, Bossy was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

Bossy also led the league in goals twice, in 1978–79 and 1980–81.

Bossy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. His No. 22 jersey was retired by the Islanders on March 3, 1992. In 1997, he was ranked number 20 on The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Personal Life and Passing

Mike Bossy met his wife, Lucie Creamer, when he was 14. They were married on July 23, 1977. Mike and Lucie had two daughters, Josiane and Tanya, and two grandchildren.

On October 19, 2021, Bossy announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He passed away in Rosemère, Quebec, on April 15, 2022, at the age of 65.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

Source:

Awards and Honors

See also

In Spanish: Mike Bossy para niños