Legendary NHL Defenseman Passes Away at 75
A sad day in the hockey world. The NHL has confirmed that former blueliner Gerry Hart has passed away at the age of 75.
Despite being five-foot-nine, Hart made his mark in the NHL when it was much harder for smaller players to gain a foothold. He broke into the league with the Detroit Red Wings, but really made his mark as an inaugural member of the New York Islanders, joining the team at their inception in 1972 before leaving in 1979.
After the Islanders
After leaving Long Island, Hart suited up for the Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis Blues. But it seems Long Island was where he really wanted to be. Following his retirement, he set up a home there, and helped open "The Rinx" recreational facility in Hauppauge and was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 for his efforts.
Hart played a total of 730 regular season games in the NHL, scoring 29 goals and 179 points. He also played another 78 games in the post season. During his time with the Islanders, the team reached the playoffs five out of seven times, despite being new to the NHL. Our thoughts are with Hart's family, friends and fans at this time.
| POLL | ||
Did you get to see Hart play? | ||
| Yes, he was awesome | 62 | 44.6 % |
| No, too young | 24 | 17.3 % |
| I can't recall | 53 | 38.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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