Islanders Unveil Clark Gilles' Media Room At Ronald McDonald House In New Hyde Park

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — The New York Islanders, the Clark Gillies Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro opened the New York Islanders Clark Gillies Media Room at Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park on Thursday at a ribbon cutting, according to a news release.

The inspirational hockey-themed room will provide relaxation and respite to children and families facing a pediatric medical crisis.

The ceremony took place around what would have been Clark Gillies’ 71st birthday. Gillies is an Islanders legend who won four consecutive Stanley Cups with the franchise in the 1980s.

"This is what it’s all about," said Jon Ledecky, co-Owner of the NY Islanders, in a news release. "We're stewards of this fantastic community trust that gives people the opportunity to promote their cause and tell the community how great things like Ronald McDonald House are."

Joining the festivities were Ledecky, Islanders legends Butch Goring and Bryan Trottier, Islanders alumni Josh Bailey, Johnny Boychuk and Cal Clutterbuck; Pam Gillies, co-founder/board member of the Clark Gillies Foundation; Matt Campo, CEO of RMHC New York Metro; and Tina and Chris Albano, a family that has used the Ronald McDonald House.

"This would have been Clark’s dream," said Pam Gillies, Clark Gillies’ wife. "It helps kids, it’s Islanders. If it's two things that Clark loved, he loved his New York Islanders and he loved helping kids. So, this is a perfect partnership and the room is beautiful."

Taking nods from the state-of-the-art UBS Arena, the home of the Islanders, the room will create a space where families can watch the Islanders on the televisions, play video games, and use the computer station workspace, all which are intended to create a sense of home life. The room is adorned with Islanders logos, replica lockers, murals of the team, Stanley Cup banners and pictures of legend Clark Gillies.

"The thing that I love about this space is that it's so versatile," said Matt Campo, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro. "Whether families want to come in and watch TV or play video games or even use the computer station that we have in here there's something for everyone in this space."

Gillies played for the Islanders from 1974-86 and served as captain from 1977-79. He won the Stanley Cup four years in a row with the team from 1980-83 and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. Gillies died in 2022.

Kim E. Courtney Interiors and Kim Radovich Home designed the space with donated textiles and furnishings.