Hockey World Mourns The Loss Of Mike Bossy

One of the greatest players in the history of the game has passed after a battle with lung cancer. He was 65.

Bossy is considered one of the greatest of all time. In 10 seasons in the NHL, all with the New York Islanders, Bossy amassed 573 goals, 553 assists totalling 1126 points in only 752 games. The 15th overall pick of the 1977 NHL Draft would score 50 goals in 9 consecutive seasons, from his first to 9th season. Bossy would also register at least 100 points in 7 of his 10 seasons played.

At the conclusion of the 1986-87 season, after a series of tests and x-rays, Bossy found out that he had two severely damaged discs in his lower back that could not be repaired with surgery. He still showed up to training camp in 1987 but then realized he couldn’t properly bend over to tie his own skates. He would sit the entire season.

The news seriously affected Bossy who despite playing with a bad back, severe knee injuries including a cracked knee cap he suffered as a teenager, had always found the will and power to play.

In 1988 then General Manager of the Islanders Bill Torrey had offered Bossy that he be traded to the Montreal Canadiens. The offer was made so that if Bossy were to return, he would be right at home. Bossy rejected the trade.

In the summer of 1988, Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky, along with General Manager Rogie Vachon and owner Bruce McNall invited Bossy to sign with LA as a free agent. Bossy declined saying he would not have been able to meet expectations.

Bossy officially retired in October 1988, having played his last game at the young age of 30.

He would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991 and have his #22 hanging from the rafters in 1992. At the time, he was only the second Islander after Denis Potvin (#5) to have his number retired.

"After his playing days were over, he was unable to play hockey or even work out because of his back and knees. Bossy returned to Laval with his family. He went into business with Pierre La Croix, his agent, and joined Titan, a hockey stick manufacturer, as vice-president. He was also a broadcaster for the Quebec Nordiques. By 1992, in addition to golfing and public speaking, he represented Karhu, Titan’s former parent company, and CUMIS, an insurance agency, in public relations positions.In 1993, Bossy broke into radio, and by 1994, he was part of the “Y’e trop d’bonne heure” (It’s too early) morning show on CKOI-FM, a French-language radio station in Montreal. Originally brought on to read the sports, Bossy became known for comic leanings, until he left in 1996.[161] By 1999, Bossy was doing public relations for Humpty Dumpty, and became the Quebec sales director of the company in 2003. He also joined Bobby Orr and Cassie Campbell as ambassadors for Hockey Canada’s Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey program.On October 13, 2006, the Islanders announced that Bossy had rejoined the organization, working with the front office in sponsor and fan development.In September 2014, Bossy joined MSG Networks as a hockey analyst, and in September 2015, he officially joined TVA Sports, an official French-language broadcaster of the NHL in Canada, as a colour commentator. Bossy appeared on the late night show Dave Morissette Live and TVA Sports at 5. – Direct source – Wikipedia."

The team at A Winning Habit send their condolences to the Bossy Family and all of his fans, as well to the entire crew over at Eyes On Isles who are affected.

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