Legacy of NY Islanders legend continues with Mike Bossy Memorial Fund

New York Islanders legend Mike Bossy was lost too soon, but his memory and impact will far longer than his glory days on Long Island.

The franchise's all-time leading scorer and Hall-of-Famer passed away on April 15, 2022, at age 65, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Bossy started having symptoms as early as 2019, with pains in his back and knees. After being treated for arthritis and once diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder, stage 4 lung cancer was found to have spread throughout his body.

He publicly announced his diagnosis in October 2021 and stepped away from his job as an analyst with TVA Sports Network. His passing was heartbreaking for Isles Nation and hockey fans around the world who grew up watching or later learned about the purest goal scorer of his generation.

Having lived through Bossy's experience of a late diagnosis, his wife Lucie, along with his daughters Tanya and Josiane, launched the Mike Bossy Memorial Fund with the goal of supporting initiatives to address lung cancer stigma and raise awareness of the disease. The Fund also helps promote the Quebec Cancer Screening Program and supports education for patients and doctors.

"On the ice, Mike Bossy will remain as one of the greatest hockey players ever to lace on a pair of skates," said former teammate Bryan Trottier. "Off the ice, I think Mike's legacy is going to become the early detection and the early screening for lung cancer."

Trottier spent two days with player he helped build the Islanders dynasty with in his final days. Bossy's daughters were angry at the late diagnosis and what cancer had taken away from their father, but Bossy implored them to take that energy and do some good and help save other lives.

Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and perhaps surprisingly the leading form of cancer for both men and women. An early diagnosis is critical for a patient's outlook and outcome. "We identify patients that are at risk of lung cancer, and even if you do not have any symptoms, at a certain age, every year, you go and do the scan," explained Tanya.

Bossy achieved all the goals he set and more throughout his illustrious NHL career. Now, his family is setting goals equally as high to help others get the early diagnosis and treatment they need.

You can donate to the fund HERE

The four-time Stanley Cup champion, Bossy, is being honored this month to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hockey Fights Cancer™, a joint initiative of the NHL and National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), in partnership with AstraZeneca since November of 2023. The important health campaign is aimed to educate and empower the hockey community to Get Body Checked Against Cancer.

Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and available cancer screenings that are right for you.