1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 28 Gilles Gratton Hockey Card (Front)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee 28 Gilles Gratton Hockey Card (Back)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Gilles went to the Soviet Union to study Russian goaltenders last summer, and he’s hopeful to make his first season in New York a successful one for the Rangers.
En Français
L’été dernier, Gilles visita l’Union Soviétique pour étudier le style des gardiens russes. Il espère que sa première saison à New-York sera couronnée de succès.
Details
Gilles Gratton would put in his only full season in the NHL in 1976-77, splitting time pretty evenly with fellow New York Rangers goalie John Davidson. Ironically, both goaltenders came to the Big Apple from the St. Louis Blues.
A name known by many hockey fans, despite the fact he played just 47 games in the National Hockey League over two years. Known as Grattoony the Loony, Gilles was one of the most colourful characters to play the game, even though it was such a short time.
On February 10, 1977, Gilles received his only five minute major penalty, but it wasn’t for fighting. In a game against the Detroit Red Wings at Detroit Olympia, starting goalie Doug Soetaert was pulled after the Wings took a 3-0 lead midway through the second. Gratton entered in relief, allowing just a single goal as the Rangers came back to win 5-4. Gilles was assessed a major with five seconds remaining in the game for throwing his stick. Earlier in the third, he’d been handed a minor for slashing, accumulating seven penalty minutes in the win.
Originally a fifth round pick by the Buffalo Sabres at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, Gilles Gratton played 47 regular season games in the National Hockey League with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. He appeared in 161 regular season and 13 playoff games in the WHA between 1972-73 and 1974-75 with the Ottawa Nationals and Toronto Toros.