Bill Text: NY K00835 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Celebrating the life and stellar career of Mike Bossy, New York Islanders legend, four-time Stanley Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Famer

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2022-05-05 - adopted [K00835 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00835-Introduced.html

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Assembly Resolution No. 835

BY: M. of A. Brown K

        CELEBRATING  the  life  and stellar career of Mike
        Bossy, New York Islanders legend, four-time  Stanley
        Cup Champion and Hockey Hall of Famer

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding  individuals  who  distinguished  themselves  through  their
exceptional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  with  great  sorrow  that  this  Legislative  Body
recognizes the passing of Mike Bossy, noting  the  significance  of  his
purposeful life and accomplishments both on and off the ice; and

  WHEREAS,  Mike  Bossy  a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, died on
Friday, April 15, 2022, at the age of  65,  after  a  battle  with  lung
cancer; and

  WHEREAS,  Mike  Bossy  grew up playing hockey and began competing in
the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when he was just 15 years-old;  he
was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (15th overall)
of  the  1977  NHL  Entry  Draft;  he was a member of the Islanders from
1977-1978 through 1986-1987, playing his entire  NHL  career  with  that
team; and

  WHEREAS, He was a right winger in a memorable forward line that came
to  be  called  the  "Trio  Grande," along with Bryan Trottier and Clark
Gillies (1954-2022); and

  WHEREAS, Mike Bossy won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of  the
Year and, along with his teammates, he helped the New York Islanders win
four  straight  Stanley Cup Championships from 1980 to 1983, shaping the
history of this franchise forever; and

  WHEREAS, He played in 129 playoff games, scoring well over  a  point
per  game  with  160 points (85 goals and 75 assists); he also holds the
franchise record for most playoff goals (85); and

  WHEREAS, He scored 573 goals (first all-time in  franchise  history)
and  553  assists (third all-time in franchise history) for 1,126 points
(second all-time in franchise history) in 752 games (seventh all-time in
franchise history); and

  WHEREAS, He had nine consecutive seasons of 50+ goals  (NHL  record)
and  scored  60  or  more goals in five of those seasons; his 573 career
goals rank 22nd all-time in NHL history and only two players reached 500
goals in fewer games, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux; and

  WHEREAS, Mike Bossy represented the New York Islanders at the  1978,
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986 NHL All-Star Games; and

  WHEREAS,  An  exceptionally  fast skater and a powerful scorer, Mike
Bossy was known for his refusal to fight, and he won the NHL's Lady Byng
Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly conduct three times; and


  WHEREAS,  In  2017,  the 100th Anniversary of the league, Mike Bossy
was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" by the NHL, and in 1991,
he was inducted into the  Hockey  Hall  of  Fame,  not  long  after  his
retirement in 1988; and

  WHEREAS,  Following  his  playing career, Mike Bossy returned to the
Islanders, offering his  incredible  insight  to  the  sponsorship,  fan
development  and  community  relations departments; he was also a highly
regarded hockey analyst on the top sports network in Quebec, TVA; and

  WHEREAS, In recognition of his  outstanding  career,  the  New  York
Islanders  retired  his  No. 22 sweater on March 3, 1992, and his banner
now hangs in UBS Arena; and

  WHEREAS, A gifted athlete, Mike Bossy was a renowned role  model  in
the  sport  of professional hockey; his character and achievements stand
as a sterling example  and  inspiration  to  all  who  would  aspire  to
success; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Mike Bossy leaves behind a legacy which will long endure the
passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he  served
and  befriended;  he will be deeply missed and truly merits the grateful
tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
celebrate  the life and stellar career of Mike Bossy, and to express its
deepest condolences to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Mike Bossy.