Greg Polis

Gregory Linn Polis (August 8, 1950 – March 18, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Polis played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals.

Greg Polis
Born	(1950-08-08)August 8, 1950 Westlock, Alberta, Canada
Died	March 18, 2018(2018-03-18) (aged 67) Courtenay, British Columbia
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Pittsburgh Penguins St. Louis Blues New York Rangers Washington Capitals
NHL draft	7th overall, 1970 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1970–1980

Early life

Born in Westlock, Alberta, Polis grew up in Dapp, a nearby prairie town with a population of 75. With few other children in town, he would bring his pet Labrador Retriever to chase down and retrieve the puck. Statements such as "Greg's dog used to chase pucks for him in his childhood" - with associated cartoon - were an annual highlight of his Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey cards in the early 1970s, the repetition of which became a source of amusement to hockey card collectors over the years.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Polis played for the Estevan Bruins in the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League and Western Canada Hockey League (precursors of the Western Hockey League) for four seasons, and was regarded as one of the best players to come out of that junior level organization. He was named as a league all star at left wing three times, and finished second in scoring in the league twice.^[1]

After advancing through the junior levels, Polis was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins as their first choice in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft (seventh overall).^[2] He played in the All-Star Game during his first three years with the Penguins. He played with three other teams during an injury-plagued career. Polis served his last pro season with the Washington Capitals in 1979–80.

Death

Polis died of cancer in Courtenay, British Columbia on March 18, 2018.^[3]

Awards and achievements

• WCHL All-Star Team (1969, 1970)
• All-Star Game: 1971, 1972, 1973
• All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 1973
• Pittsburgh Briere Award (Rookie of Year): 1970–71

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1966–67	Estevan Bruins	CMJHL		54	12	30	42	83		13	1	5	6	12
1967–68	Estevan Bruins	WCHL		59	35	32	67	124		13	3	6	9	20
1967–68	Estevan Bruins	MC		—	—	—	—	—		12	1	4	5	8
1968–69	Estevan Bruins	WCHL		60	40	85	125	94		12	4	6	10	8
1969–70	Estevan Bruins	WCHL		60	48	56	104	69		5	2	1	3	2
1970–71	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		61	18	15	33	40		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		76	30	19	49	38		4	0	2	2	0
1972–73	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		78	26	23	49	36		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		41	14	13	27	32		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	St. Louis Blues	NHL		37	8	12	20	24		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	New York Rangers	NHL		76	26	15	41	55		3	0	0	0	6
1975–76	New York Rangers	NHL		79	15	21	36	77		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	New York Rangers	NHL		77	16	23	39	44		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	New York Rangers	NHL		37	7	16	23	12		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	New York Rangers	NHL		6	1	1	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		10	3	3	6	0		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	Washington Capitals	NHL		19	12	6	18	6		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Washington Capitals	NHL		28	1	5	6	19		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Hershey Bears	AHL		9	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Hershey Bears	AHL		2	1	0	1	5		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				615	174	169	343	391		7	0	2	2	6