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RIP Jethro and Richie

January 24, 2022, 10:31 AM ET [0 Comments]
Paul Stewart
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • RSSArchiveCONTACT
As with everyone in the hockey community, I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Clark Gillies. I had the opportunity a few days prior to Clark's passing to speak with Denis Potvin. He told me that Clark was not doing well, and that his own brother and former teammate, Jean Potvin, is also in failing health.

I had planned to reach out to Clark after my conversation with Denis but, sadly, ran out of time. I'd have told Clark that he was someone I always admired and held in immense respect. I never knew Clark well beyond exchanging greetings when we encountered one another but I did once get to have a more in-depth conversation with him, and I'm grateful for it.

Clark Gillies was one of the toughest and most honorable players I ever saw. A leader and key contributor on the New York Islanders' four consecutive Stanley Cup championship teams of the early 1980s, Gillies was a complete player.

"Jethro" was above-average in every facet of the game. He was a good skater, had offensive skills, was a two-way player and brought a physical element to the game. He was also tough as rawhide. Gillies never exceeded 100 penalty minutes during his pro career, but that was because no one wanted to mess with him. That included myself.

Even by today's standards, Clark would be considered a big and strong forward at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds. By the standards of the 1970s and 80's, he was like an M4 Sherman battle tank. When he threw a body check, it hurt. When someone went to check him, it was usually the other guy who wound up taking a seat on the ice. When he dropped the gloves, he rarely lost.

Thankfully, as long as he wasn't provoked, Gillies usually played a clean brand of hockey. If I had been more skilled, Gillies is exactly the type of NHL player I'd have wanted to be. Such was my admiration for his abilities and toughness that he was one of the few players I would never have wanted to fight if I could avoid it.

Years ago, I had a chance meeting with Clark when he was traveling for an Islanders Alumni Team game and we ended up in the same city.

"I think you fought just about everyone on our team," he said. "Everyone but me."

"That's because you would have destroyed me," I replied.

Jethro smiled affably.

"Maybe," he said. "But even if I knocked you down 10 times, you would have gotten up 10 times and kept coming right back at me."

In our world, that was an exchange of mutual respect. It meant a lot to me. I can also honestly say that no matter how fierce the rivalry, I've never met a single fellow NHL Alum who'd have a negative thing to say about Gillies as a person or a player. We'd all have loved to have him as a teammate. The Islanders got themselves a real good one in the Hall of Famer.

Apart from Gillies' passing, this has been an especially sad week for the Stewart family with the passing of Richie Hart. My late dad, Bill Stewart Jr., loved Richie like a son as he played Hockey under my father at English High in Boston. From there, Hart went on to Newman Prep, playing for George Kozak, and then to Boston College playing for Snook's and Lenny.

My dad used to chuckle a bit when "Richard" (that's what Dad always) called him) played on the edge as he had great mobility and that streak of toughness that only proved that you could take the boy out of Charlestown but never could you take Charlestown out of the boy.

Richie married a beautiful lady, Mary. Later, in 1975, he helped me with a big favor. In Binghamton, Richie and Steve Stirling vouched for me with Broome Duster coach, Wayne Clairmont. I soon received a tryout and eventually signed a whopping deal for $250 a week, never looking back.

Richie was a great friend to me. He was the shop-steward at the Budweiser plant in Medford. When the NHL referees went on strike and threatened to picket the Garden in 1993, Richie promised me that NO BEER would be delivered to The Cashbox on Causeway.

I like to think that promise got to and then hastened the League and the Jacobs family in particular to give us a contract that took us out of slave labor into a job that could then be classified as a profession.

I send along to Mary and the Hart family my warmest wishes for peace and tranquility and deepest condolences after Richie's passing. Always remember how highly my entire family regarded him.

To Richie, find fast ice, my friend. This Bud's for you.

**********

A 2018 inductee into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Visit Paul's official websites, YaWannaGo.com and Officiating by Stewart
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