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.

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.

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.

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). 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.

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 seasonPlayoffs 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