If you know anything about hockey, you know what I'm talking about. If you don't know anything about hockey, just use your imagination and you probably won't be too far off.
I absolutely love the physicality of hockey. When players get fired up, I get fired up. These guys can change the momentum of a game. They get their teammates excited, they get the other team angry, and they get the fans into the game. They push, shove, throw punches, and serve the most time in the penalty box. The bad boys are one of the things I love most about hockey.
Let's throw it back to one of my all time favorites: ROB RAY. Robbie played for the Buffalo Sabres for 14 seasons as their main enforcer. He logged over 3000 penalty minutes in his career (6th in overall NHL history). The NHL implemented a fighting rule that is nicknamed the Rob Ray rule - he used to remove his jersey and pads during fights, which made it harder for his opponent to hold on to him - the rule gives additional penalties to players who remove their jerseys or pads during a fight. Rob Ray was one of the best fighters of the 1990's, and helped to fuel some bitter rivalries for the Sabres, namely the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins (two teams that I still hate to this day).
So I don't love this guy but he fits the bill: DONALD BRASHEAR. I'm not a huge fan of Brashear, but he definitely needs to be included in this post. He is extremely aggressive - he was the league leader in penalty minutes for six seasons, and is ranked 15th in NHL overall history. I think Brashear is one of the kings of taking cheap shots - he has been suspended numerous times for blind siding his opponents and intending to injure them. Even though he's definitely a bully, Brashear is the victim of what I think is the most outrageous incident in NHL history (if you don't know what I'm talking about, google Marty McSorley).
Here's a player from my mistress team, the Philadelphia Flyers: DANIEL CARCILLO. In the 2009-2010 season, Carcillo was 4th in the league for penalty minutes served (he led the league in the 07-08 season when he played for the Phoenix Coyotes). During the 2010 Winter Classic, he fought Shawn Thornton of the Boston Bruins, which was the first fight in Winter Classic history (and it totally made my day). He goes crazy when he's in the penalty box, yelling and throwing stuff around, getting all hyped up. He's totally exciting to watch. If I'm not laughing at his antics it usually means I'm yelling at the person he's going after. Who wouldn't love a game with this guy in it?
I could go on for quite a while: Derek Boogaard, Tie Domi, Ian Laperriere, Colton Orr, Dave Semenko...so many goons, so little time.
I think todd bertuzzi committed the worst cheap shot in the history of hockey.
ReplyDeleteyou've got a point, the injuries that steve moore sustained were far worse.
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