2 On the Isles: Clark Gillies & Bobby Nystrom Share Stories About Garry Howatt | New York Islanders
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Small in stature but fearless in a fight, Garry Howatt was one of the most interesting characters in New York Islanders history.
Isles greats Bobby Nystrom & Clark Gillies swap stories about the “Toy Tiger”!
Follow MSG Networks:
www.msgnetwork...
/ msgnetworks
/ msgnetworks
/ msgnetworks
I remember that game. Howatt and Nystrom played thief hearts out. Howatt fought Orr after Bobby viciously cross checked him. You could see the Bruins saying, "who the neck are these guys" I think the Islanders won the game. Boston was the best team in the league.
Nystrom was awesome,,,,great player and tough as nails. Seems he is a gentleman too, which makes it easier to like him as a Rangers fan.
I personally recently met Bobby Nystrom and want everybody to know that he's one of the nicest guys you'll ever want to meet in your life. He's a gentlemen, a wonderful human being and a truly great New York Islander. I've heard the exact same thing about Clark Gillies and am very saddened to hear about the recent passing of Clark Gillies, Mike Bossy & Guy LaFleur. I want to add one more thing, Mike Bossy used to live in the development years ago where I live and met him in the Clubhouse Office just after The New York Islanders won their Fourth Stanley Cup against The Edmonton Oilers. I told him these exact words "Mr. Bossy I wanted to congratulate you on winning your Fourth Straight Stanley Cup and wanted you to know that I think you're great" and he thanked me. I will never forget that moment because I was in the presence of true greatness. The New York Islanders dominated a superior Hockey Team with extraordinary talent with their experience, the great talent they had, and hard work. They shut down the most explosive offensive talent and made it look easy. If I had to show the world how great The New York Islanders were I'd show them that series. With the absolute exception of Wayne Gretzky nobody shot the hockey puck better than Mike Bossy. He could put that puck anywhere he wanted in the net. His accuracy today still stuns people. RIP to Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies & Guy LaFleur.
so true ive met bobby nystrom as a kid a teen and an adult the man is pure class i told him that last time i met him.the foundation those teams left on and off the ice is reason the team never moved and why the fan base feels a connection to team like no other team in sports. the charity work clark and bobby did off the ice was incredible and the way they treated the fans is the reason you have never really heard stories over the years of isles players being jerks to the fans nystrom gillies and rest of dynasty team set the standard of how the team treats the fans and any player coming here learns that
Gentlemen and tough as hell.
You guys are legends.
Minus 3 after the first 3 shifts... always nice to hear good stories.
True Story - My senior year in high school ('81) we take a school trip at night to an Isles game. Islanders are way up on top and peeps started leaving early, so me and a classmate go down right to the glass to watch. Well there had been no fights at all in the game up to this point, which kind of sucked, so we're really hoping to see one. A couple of minutes later Howatt comes up and checks a dude (can't remember what team) right into the glass in front of us - literally our faces are 2ft apart through the glass. Me and my bud start yelling "Hit him Gary, HIT HIM!" Well Gary knows we want to see a fight and so he wails on the back of this guy's head like two or three times trying to provoke him, but the dude just skates away - he didn't want any part of Howatt. Gary turns, looks right at us, and just shrugs his shoulders, in effect saying "sorry, I tried" LOL Coolest moment ever!
Big Ranger fan but these guys were great, loved Howatt as well. Great hockey team, have to tip your cap.
cedarpl thank you.. Always respected the rivalry... Peace.
@Willie Gordon actually Garry won their first fight in 1973 1974
@Willie Gordon Then, in 1976, Schultz pissed Larry Robinson off & finally got what he deserved: His SORRY ASS KICKED!
BIG TIME! No less. After that, Flyers were in submission & they were never the same again.
"The Philly Flu" was finally over - for good! The Spectrum was finally cleansed.
@@mr.blackwell5423, didn't Gillies give Schultz a beat down before Robinson pummeled him.
@@mr.blackwell5423 I think Robinson and Gillies are two best at fights and playing...definitely for there era and maybe beyond.
Howatt is one of the better examples I can think of of a smart agitator. Very useful hockey player. Not overly skilled but tenacious and with a big heart. He would take on guys way bigger than him. Hockey was a very different game back then.
I remember him well. I think he may have lost every fight he was in, but it didn't matter -- it was about his willingness to take on anyone.
@@citizenghosttown He didn't win many but was willing
I thought Jay Wells was going to kill him one night. Apparently Wells first shift back on ice after being benched and he ran into Howatt.
I play pick up hockey in Arizona. Gary goes every tuesday and thursday always waking me!!! 😂
Ask Dave Schultz about how tough Gary Howatt was.
I LOVE THIS
RIP Clarkie 🔶🔷
0:44
That's a funny story about Howatt fighting Bobby Orr and how the other players were shocked he would do that.
Dennis Polonich did a similar thing fighting Bobby Orr at the very tale end of Orr's career.
In fact Orr only played 8 more games in the NHL after his fight with Polonich.
Orr was playing for Chicago at that time and him and Polonich ended up behind the play after they had fought for the puck in the corner and Polonich was in his face.
Orr said something like "up from the minors looking to make a name for yourself?"
and off they went swinging. Later in the penalty box serving their fighting majors people were reaching into Orr's box with their game programs wanting him to sign them.
And Polonich was sitting there thinking "Gee I wish he would sign one for me too".
All this is from the mouth of Polonich himself when he was a guest on Shaun Newman's podcast.
And Orr only played 8 more NHL games after that.
Great story. Polonich also fought the 2nd best defenseman in Bruins history, Ray Bourque, in the early 80’s. Broke Bourque’s jaw. However, Ray won the fight. Orr’s autograph was like gold and still is. During the 1976, Canada cup, he was sitting in the shower stall, signing sticks for the Russians. The one and only Bobby Orr!
GREAT STORY. i COULD LISTEN TO THESE STORIES ALL DAY LONG
I remember listening to that game against the Bruins on the radio one winter night out at Southampton College. These two minor league call-ups were taking on the Big Bad Bruins. I was a Ranger fan but still caught Islander games when I had the time.
Always wondered if Nystrom or Gilles were the ex-teammates who gave Howatt the bad advice to request a trade from Hartford to the Devils. Hartford had offered him the captaincy plus a nice contract. Howatt mentions this in an YT interview but doesn't name names. Must have really sucked to get traded from the Isles in the middle of their 4 year Cup run for a 5th round draft choice.
Garry Howatt. THAT LITTLE GUY WAS A TRIP, BIG TIME.
RIP, Clark Gillies.
The guys you hated unless they were on your team. Chris Nilan was that as a Ranger. Even Turk Sanderson and Espo.
"Dave who?" Obviously he left a big impression on Clark.
Well, considering Pulkkinen only played a grand total of 2 games for NYI, and that was two seasons before Gillies even got there. No wonder Clark didn't know about Pulkkinen 😆
Gary's my cousin proud Howatt
Robert "Bobby" Nystrom born in Stockholm, Sweden 10/10/52. Moved to North America in 1957. Anyone know
if he still speaks any Swedish at all? Since Bob has dual citizenship he was very close to play for Team Sweden
during Canada Cup in 1981. It never happened. He was negotiating a new, lucrative, contract w/ NYI at the time.
From what I heard he was invited to play for the Swedish team at the first Canada Cup tournament in 1976, but declined the offer. I guess he just didn't feel Swedish enough. Swedish blood, Canadian soul, American passport.
Garry Howatt the Toy Tiger.
Jethro RIP
711