Gerry Hart

For the Illinois State Redbirds coach, see Gerry Hart (American football).

Gerald William Hart (January 1, 1948 – May 12, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 730 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Quebec Nordiques, and St. Louis Blues between 1969 and 1982. He reached the NHL playoff semifinals four times in five seasons with the Islanders.

Gerry Hart
Hart in 1973
Born	(1948-01-01)January 1, 1948 Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada
Died	May 12, 2023(2023-05-12) (aged 75)
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Detroit Red Wings New York Islanders Quebec Nordiques St. Louis Blues
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1968–1982

In 1979 he joined the Nordiques, who claimed him in the 1979 NHL expansion draft.^[1]

Hart retired from the NHL in 1982 and began living off his investments.

In October 1992, Hart, along with college roommates Thomas Mattioli and Randolph Nash, opened The Rinx recreation complex in Hidden Pond Park in Hauppauge, New York with a 20-year land lease from the Town of Islip. On May 26, 2004, Hart sold the popular ice rink and day camp to Francis J. Palamara, a business consultant, who formerly served as Executive Vice President for Aramark.

Hart died on May 12, 2023, at the age of 75.^[2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1964–65	Flin Flon Bombers	SJHL		2	0	0	0	0		1	0	0	0	2
1965–66	Flin Flon Bombers	SJHL		57	7	10	17	170		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Flin Flon Bombers	MJHL		46	22	28	50	189		14	5	14	19	90
1966–67	Flin Flon Bombers	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		6	1	2	3	48
1966–67	Port Arthur Marrs	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		5	0	2	2	23
1967–68	Flin Flon Bombers	WCHL		58	13	38	51	290		15	1	7	8	43
1968–69	Fort Worth Wings	CHL		26	2	3	5	52		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Baltimore Clippers	AHL		38	2	6	8	88		4	0	1	1	23
1968–69	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Fort Worth Wings	CHL		64	2	19	21	226		7	0	4	4	26
1969–70	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		64	2	7	9	148		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Tidewater Wings	AHL		28	4	9	13	146		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Fort Worth Wings	CHL		14	1	4	5	84		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	New York Islanders	NHL		47	1	11	12	158		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	New York Islanders	NHL		70	1	10	11	61		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	New York Islanders	NHL		71	4	14	18	143		17	2	2	4	42
1975–76	New York Islanders	NHL		80	6	18	24	151		13	1	3	4	24
1976–77	New York Islanders	NHL		80	4	18	22	98		12	0	2	2	23
1977–78	New York Islanders	NHL		78	2	23	25	94		7	0	0	0	16
1978–79	New York Islanders	NHL		50	2	14	16	78		9	0	2	2	10
1979–80	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		71	3	23	26	59		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL		2	0	3	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		6	0	0	0	10		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	St. Louis Blues	NHL		63	4	11	15	132		10	0	0	0	27
1981–82	St. Louis Blues	NHL		35	0	1	1	102		10	0	3	3	33
1982–83	St. Louis Blues	NHL		8	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				730	29	150	179	1240		78	3	12	15	175

Awards and achievements

• MJHL First All-Star Team (1967)
• Turnbull Cup MJHL Championship (1967)
• WCJHL First All-Star Team (1968)
• Honoured Member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Hockey Category with the Class of 1997.

References

1. "Hart dies at 75, was member of Islanders expansion team". NHL.com. May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
2. Buono, Joseph (13 May 2023). "Original NY Islander Gerry Hart passes away at age 75". Eyes on Isles. Retrieved 15 May 2023.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Hart's biography at