Legendary New York Islander, Mike Bossy, next to his Mercedes 240 outside the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island New York.Michael Falco
Mike Bossy is a four-time NHL Stanley Cup champion who hung up his skates in 1987, but he's still working for the New York Islanders.
The former' right wing powerhouse is the team's vice-president of corporate sponsorships. On the ice, Bossy was a natural-born sniper, but on the road he takes a slower pace driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C280 sedan when he's in New York as part of an Islanders sponsorship deal. And when he returns home to Montreal, he drives a 2010 Chevrolet Equinox - it's another sponsorship agreement for his role as a Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey ambassador.
"When I go from New York to Montreal, I have to adjust to the difference in cars - where the wipers are, where the lights are. They're two completely different cars - one is very low to the ground and the other you're sitting higher up," says Bossy. "And it's a different kind of drive. But they both suit exactly what I need them for.
"When I'm in New York, I'm working and the car gets me from one meeting to another. Whereas when I'm in Montreal back home, the Equinox is great because I can run errands and put mulch in the back of the truck," says Bossy, who is also a spokesman for The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer, a four-month initiative aimed at educating men about the risks of prostate cancer. More than 25,500 Canadian men will be diagnosed with the disease this year. The issue is close to his heart - he has four uncles who survived prostrate cancer.
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"I prefer the Equinox just because I'm not one of those run-and-gun drivers. I wouldn't say I'm a slowpoke. I prefer the feeling of security in the truck and the fact that's its convenient to lug things around and it has a lot of room in it. In New York, I wouldn't need such a big vehicle, but when I'm at home it suits its purpose perfectly."
The Mercedes also is missing a feature he loves on the Equinox. "This is a silly thing, but on the Equinox when a song is playing on the radio it puts who is singing the song on the screen, which is silly, but convenient because a lot of times you're listening to songs and you don't know who is singing them."
Nowadays, Bossy isn't too concerned about what people think of what he drives. "Being who I am I would imagine people do look at the vehicle that I'm driving," he laughs. "It's funny how it mattered more when I was playing and I was younger, but it really doesn't matter to me any more.
"When I was a player and I was young, I was into cars a lot more than I am now. I went through the gamut of cars. I used to have a Jaguar, a Mercedes convertible and a Porsche when I was playing. But since I retired and as I get older it's about what's convenient, what gets me from one place to another and what's comfortable. That's what I look at now," says the 53-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer.
"The first car I ever bought was a Mercury Bobcat. I was 16. It was blue and I drove it into the ground. I paid $4,200 in 1973 and I had to borrow money to get it. I really don't have any great memories, except for the fact it was my first car.
"My worst memory is driving down from Montreal to the Carolinas to play golf. When I got there I had to change two of the tires because the alignment was off and two of my tires were completely worn off from the trip. No good memories of the Bobcat. But it was my first car and your first car is your first car. I had that car until I signed my first contract with the Islanders in 1977."
"My first car as an adult was a Buick LeSabre. I loved that car. It was white with a velour powder blue interior - I was proud of that car."
Then came a rash of fast sports cars - he can't recall the model numbers, but there were a few Bimmers, a Mercedes, a Jaguar and several Audis.
His favourite car was a 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL convertible. "It was charcoal grey. I had it for about a year and I put about 1,800 miles on it.
"I was so afraid to drive it to get it nicked or bumped. It spent more time in my garage than on the road," says Bossy who holds the NHL record for most consecutive 50-goal-plus seasons (nine). He was also the first player to have a 50-goal-plus season as a rookie (1977-78).
His best auto memory was with his Jaguar XJC. "I remember washing it one day while I was having my coffee and I put my coffee cup on the back bumper. I then drove to my mother-in-law's house, which was about six miles from where I was living. I drove there and back and the coffee cup was still on the back bumper. ... No one ever believes me, but it happened."
If he had his dream car, he'd go for another Jag.
"I have one neighbour to my left that has a Lamborghini; I have four other neighbours on my right that have Ferraris. It's funny I have no desire for them. My all-time favourite car to look at was the Jaguar XKE sports model. If I could have the keys to one car, it would probably be that one."
pgentile@globeandmail.com
Petrina Gentile