Background
Born in Westlock, Alberta, Polis grew up in Dapp, a nearby prairie town with a population of 75. With few other children in town, he would bring his pet Labrador Retriever to chase down and retrieve the puck.
Born in Westlock, Alberta, Polis grew up in Dapp, a nearby prairie town with a population of 75. With few other children in town, he would bring his pet Labrador Retriever to chase down and retrieve the puck.
Polis played in the National Hockey League (National Hockey League) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saint Louis Blues, New York Rangers and Washington Capitals. Statements such as "Greg"s dog used to chase pucks for him in his childhood" - with associated cartoon - were an annual highlight of his Topps and O-Pee-Chee hockey cards in the early 1970s, the repetition of which became a source of amusement to hockey card collectors over the years. Polis played for the Estevan Bruins in the WCJHL for 4 seasons, and was regarded as one of the best players to come out of that junior level organization.
He was named as a league all star at left wing three times, and finished second in scoring in the league twice.
After advancing through the junior levels, Polis was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins as their first choice in the 1970 National Hockey League Amateur Draft (7th overall). He played in the All-Star Game during his first three years with the Penguins.
He played with three other teams during an injury-plagued career. Polis served his last pro season with the Washington Capitals in 1979-1980.