Though just into his early forties, Gary Nylund has already played 12 years for the Canucks alumni team. ThatǃÙs because his illustrious NHL career was cut short at just 11 seasons due to a series of knee injuries which were entirely too serious and painful to play through. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound rearguard was Leafs 1st round pick (3rd overall) in 1982 and enjoyed a stellar junior career in Portland where he was voted the WHLǃÙs top defenceman and a first team all-star in 1982. He played four seasons for the Leafs before the Hawks signed him as a free agent in the summer of 1986. Then, after two-and-a-half seasons in Chicago, he was dealt to the Islanders where he spent the final four seasons of his NHL career, wrapping it up in 1993. Gary now works as a firefighter in the municipality of Delta.