The great Bert14 on Gillies

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

You'll get no disagreement from me BBB regarding Gillies.

I know of no fighter that was as feared and as respected by his peers as Gillies. If you talk to any enforcers from that era, almost every one of them will mention Gillies as being a sleeping giant and the one guy you just didn't want to mess with. He was incredibly respected throughout the league.

For one thing, he had devastating punching power. IMO, more than Kocur or Twist. If you fought Gillies, you ran the risk of getting hurt and a lot of fighters avoided Gillies for just that reason.

Of course, the knock on Gillies has always been that he was a somewhat reluctant fighter and the Jonathan fight is a good example. Jonathan had been trying to get Gillies to go the entire game and Gillies kept skating away. Finally, Jonathan goads Gillies into dropping the gloves, but he is still reluctant to really start swinging. Finally, Gillies throws one big right hand and down goes Jonathan. Never saw Jonathan dropped like that. No one ever dropped Jonathan, but one right hand from Gillies and down he goes. Jonathan gets up looking embarrassed while Gillies just gives him a look and a shrug as if to say, "I told you".

Another example of Gillies punching power came against Harvey Bennett, during a preseason game against the Flyers. A line brawl breaks out as Dave Hoyda jumps and starts beating up on Dave Lewis. Everyone grabs a partner and John Paddock starts roughing up Stefan Persson. Gillies was paired up with Bennett and wanted to get over to Paddock. Bennett gave Gillies a tug and one of those you ain't going nowhere looks, and that was all it took. One right hand later and Bennett is on his knees with Gillies wailing away.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if I were putting together a team, and I'm not talking just fighting here, but a real genuine hockey team, and I needed one guy to be my enforcer, I'd go with Gillies. When you think about it, how many guys can skate on the first line, score 30 goals 6 times, and also be recognized as one of the best fighters in the business. I was glad to see Gillies get into the Hall and felt it was well deserved. He was very instrumental in the Islanders winning all those cups. He sure as hell created a lot of room for Trottier and Bossy to go to work.

On this board the subject of who was better, Nystrom or Gillies, comes up from time to time and I am always amazed by this comparison. This is definately a phenomena of the tape generation. I don't disagree that on tape, Nystrom is the more willing and the more exciting fighter of the two. He threw fast and furious which makes for a great, entertaining fighter. Much more entertaining than Gillies. However, during the era in which they played, there was never any doubt throughout the league as to who the Islander heavyweight was.

[mikebflorida]

Gillies was a god among insects.

[fish7]

Bert 14 was one of my favorite posters

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by fish7

Bert 14 was one of my favorite posters

Stands alone, unrivaled.

[CloakAndDagger8]

For one thing, he had devastating punching power. IMO, more than Kocur or Twist.

Don't know what that guy is on, but nobody had the punching power of Kocur or Twist, easily the two hardest punchers ever. Wilson also owned Gillies.

[GOON 21]

Originally Posted by CloakAndDagger8

Don't know what that guy is on, but nobody had the punching power of Kocur or Twist, easily the two hardest punchers ever. Wilson also owned Gillies.

Hes a old time knowledgable poster (I think he grew up on 70's maybe even 60's hockey) and he was a very knowledgable fan, im not sure if hes still with us anymore to be honest, its been a while since i seen him around here


Your entitled to your opinion, those guys were fierce punchers 4 sure, but so was Gillies, and Wilson didnt 'own' Gillies, he got him good one fight and the second fight was very close. Gillies said in a interview that he knew Wilson got him the first time around and wanted that second fight badly and thinks he did well in the re-match

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

Hes a old time knowledgable poster (I think he grew up on 70's maybe even 60's hockey) and he was a very knowledgable fan, im not sure if hes still with us anymore to be honest, its been a while since i seen him around here


Your entitled to your opinion, those guys were fierce punchers 4 sure, but so was Gillies, and Wilson didnt 'own' Gillies, he got him good one fight and the second fight was very close. Gillies said in a interview that he knew Wilson got him the first time around and wanted that second fight badly and thinks he did well in the re-match

no doubt, Gillies was throwing really well in the second go, and slipped because of the torque he was generating

[TheMah6712]

Originally Posted by BaddaBing Badda Boom

no doubt, Gillies was throwing really well in the second go, and slipped because of the torque he was generating

Whether you like it or not, Wilson had his way with Gillies. He rag-dolled and pummeled him in round one, and in round two Gillies got dropped by Big Behn.

[29th_Candidate]

Originally Posted by CloakAndDagger8

Don't know what that guy is on, but nobody had the punching power of Kocur or Twist, easily the two hardest punchers ever. Wilson also owned Gillies.

Dream on.

[29th_Candidate]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

Hes a old time knowledgable poster (I think he grew up on 70's maybe even 60's hockey) and he was a very knowledgable fan, im not sure if hes still with us anymore to be honest, its been a while since i seen him around here


Your entitled to your opinion, those guys were fierce punchers 4 sure, but so was Gillies, and Wilson didnt 'own' Gillies, he got him good one fight and the second fight was very close. Gillies said in a interview that he knew Wilson got him the first time around and wanted that second fight badly and thinks he did well in the re-match

Even Wilson admitted Gillies took him in the rematch. [sarcasm] Gee, this debate never gets old or tired. [/sarcasm]

[BaddaBing Badda Boom]

Originally Posted by 29th_Candidate

Even Wilson admitted Gillies took him in the rematch. [sarcasm] Gee, this debate never gets old or tired. [/sarcasm]

this is like trying to explain the theory of relativity to a small neck clam - don't waste your time

[RetardedChimp]

Thank god for videos!

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by TheMah6712

Whether you like it or not, Wilson had his way with Gillies. He rag-dolled and pummeled him in round one, and in round two Gillies got dropped by Big Behn.

And Fotiu beat Behn Wilson rather easily!

[miller29]

Wasn't the great Bert14 exposed for plagiarism???

[Excelsior76]

Originally Posted by 29th_Candidate

Even Wilson admitted Gillies took him in the rematch. [sarcasm] Gee, this debate never gets old or tired. [/sarcasm]

Gillies knew he got embarrassed in the first fight, and even admitted he got dropped in the second fight. Wilson was a better fighter than Gillies, period.

And Fotiu beat Behn Wilson rather easily!

He barely won, and it was a fluke win. Wilson would win a 10-fight series over the much overrated Fotiu.