NEWYORK | There’s Mike Bossy, the hockey player. The glory of the New York Islanders, who won the Stanley Cup four times and scored nine straight seasons with 50 goals or more.
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There is also the man behind number 22. Then the father, the husband and the grandfather. Mike Bossy dedicated his time, energy and love to his wife, daughters and granddaughters.
Passing away from lung cancer on April 15, 2022 at the age of 65, Bossy is still alive in the hearts of Islanders fans, but even more so in those close to him.
“I’ve said it before, but Mike probably felt like he was missing out on family time during his hockey career,” says Tanya, one of his two daughters. He was intense and invested in his sport. But when he retired from hockey, he became a father and later a 200% grandpa. »
Archive photo, Martin Chevalier
Mike Bossy’s daughter Tanya.
“My father was everywhere for his children. Sometimes I could go outside and he would emerge from a bush. He wanted to surprise us, make us laugh. It’s not a caricature, he really was. He was always there for his world, he was always ready to help. »
A figure and a half and a half
Tanya told this story about her father at his hotel on Long Island. Accompanied by her two daughters (Alexe and Gabrielle), her sister Josiane and her mother Lucie, she traveled from Montreal to New York to honor her father’s memory.
The islanders had the delicacy of choosing to visit the Montreal Canadiens to pay another tribute to one of the greatest players in their history.
On an evening dedicated to the legends of the team, the Islanders are giving away 10,000 Bossy figurines to fans who come to the game. But there will be more than one gift for the fans.
“The islanders always organize a 50/50 and the leaders of the team have offered to donate the money raised to a foundation of our choice. This gave rise to the idea of creating a fund specifically to destigmatize the disease, promote the early detection project and educate patients and doctors to recognize the symptoms of lung cancer. »
to do awareness
The Bossy family uses this evening at the UBS Arena to jointly open the Mike Bossy Memorial Fund with Lung Cancer Canada.
“My father’s cancer was discovered late,” Tanya recalled. Mike would be happy to know that we are continuing the work to raise awareness and help people. This is a fight I want to continue. »
Tanya, now a mother of two little girls, will get another dose of love from the loyal islanders.
“When I was little, I didn’t realize the impact of my father’s career with the Islanders. I was 6 when he retired. I remember the night they retired his jersey on Long Island.
“I thought it was special to hear thousands of people yell my last name when my dad was on the ice,” she said. I quickly understood, without knowing hockey, that my father was loved and that he had achieved great things. »
“My father had a special aura. When I walked with him, everyone smiled at him. I didn’t really realize it at the time. But now that he’s gone, I notice him. My father made people smile. He was also a smiling man. »
There will surely be a big smile from heaven before we drop the puck for this game between the Islanders and the CH.