During the 1979-1980 campaign, OReilly accumulated 265 minutes in the sin bin while playing in 71 games. His mother, Lorraine, said he had been battling depression. Well-regarded during his time in pro hockeys top circuit, Williams could also tally points. Ice Guardians: Directed by Brett Harvey. [11] The frequency has steadily declined over time, from 1.3 fights per game in the late 1980s to 0.5 in 2012. The pest's primary role is to draw penalties from opposing players, thus "getting them off their game", while not actually intending to fight the opposition player (although exceptions to this do occur). Most of the enforcers named above were generally considered "nice guys" in their everyday life. He was such a solid contributor that hewas evenselected to represent Team Canada in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. Outside the arena, away from the roaring bloodlust of the crowd, fighting can be lonely work. Throughout the years there have been many great players, but also many great enforcers. However,when you consider that he averaged slightly more than 10 minutes of ice-time per game and still managed to put up 245 points in 1020 games, that isn'thalf bad! Semenko joined the Oilers before they joined the NHL and went on to serve as the enforcer on one of the most memorable teams in league history. Hunter also finished with 3,565 penalty minutes, the 2nd most of any player and if that is not enough to certify his villain status, just look to the cheap shot he delivered to Pierre Turgeon, which earned him a 21 game suspension. Larry Goodenough Don Grosso Dale Hawerchuk Shane Hnidy Craig Coxe Kris King Keith Tkachuk Jim Morrison Bob Sauve Jonathan Cheechoo Darius Kasparaitis Bill Kitchen Uwe Krupp Dickie Moore Rory Fitzpatrick Dino Ciccarelli Joe Reekie Roman Hamrlik Colby Armstrong Brandon Yip And now, the 50 greatest Hockey Enforcer names: 50. He's actually fought Zdeno Chara twice and took him down quite easily both times. Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool and shootin' some bball outside of the school. They must be dosing the water supply with testosterone in the province. Discussing Bobby Robins and Zac Rinaldo, Steve Lepore of Rolling Stone wrote the two are "what's known throughout hockey as classic enforcers. However, on top of that, Barnaby also had a knack for scoring big goals. As the rules evolve, hockey may be seen as "softer," he says. Most people know Howe as one of the greatest offensive players of all time as he is currently fourth all-time in NHL career points scored. Full Bio. Rob Ray: Ray dominated NHL fighters throughout the 90s and into the 2000s and was well-known as an all-time popular Buffalo Sabre. When he was done, he'd stick out that stupid tongue and frustrate everyone even more. In the 200708 NHL season fights occurred in 38.46% of the games, up from 33% the season before, which was just below the pre-lockout fighting level of 41.14% of games in the 200304 season. The NHL is quickly phasing out players that are only there to fight, as teams simply do not want someone that will be a liability every timethey're on the ice. While no hockey player is officially listed as enforcer on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Dave Tiger Williams is the career penalty minute leader with 3,966 and that is a number that will likely remain for the rest of time. Craig Berube entered the NHL with a chip on his shoulder. BILL COOK: Renowned for his scoring skills as a member of a legendary Rangers forward line that included his brother Fred (Bun) Cook and center Frank Boucher, Bill Cook played the game as hard as any NHL enforcer from any big-league era. Stu Grimson was the NHLs heavyweight champion of the 1990s. Tiger Williams: The all-time leader in career penalty minutes, Tiger Williams had nearly 4000 penalty minutes in only 962 career games. Sports journalist and writer Roy Macgregor opines that in light of recent tragic events there should be more done about it, including eliminating the role altogether. McSorleys charge was an important one: protecting the Great One during his stint in Edmonton. McSorley won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, where he racked up 32 fighting majors over the two campaigns. In 958 career games, Gillies recorded 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1,023 penalty minutes. For his career, Schultz averaged more than four minutes per game in the penalty box: the highest rate ever. I love to shoot the breeze on sports and appreciate any type of feedback (even you haters!). When it was all said and done, Berube had fought 250 times, retiring with the thirdmost fighting majors of any player and the 7thmost career penalty minutes. ", http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11688, "Ryan VandenBussche hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Dennis Vial hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", https://www.detroitathletic.com/blog/2009/03/16/remembering-the-red-wings-enforcer-bryan-bugsy-watson/, "Where Are They Now? It wasa costly penalty that shifted the momentum in the series. Knuckles was adept enough with his stick to be chosen to represent Team USA at the 1987 Canada Cup, and he was a member of the Stanley Cup-winning 1986 Montreal Canadians. Thus, hes accumulating nearly ten minutes in timeout for every point he tallies. The bone-crushing Boston native somehow managed to commit 10 penalties in a single contest, spending a ludicrous 42 minutes in the box. He was found dead in his suburban Toronto home, and police quickly ruled out foul play. Injuries hampered the career of this bruiser, but he still managed to rack up the ninth most penalty minutes of all time. McSorley would go on to lead the NHL in penalty minutes during the 1992-93 season, where he had 15 fighting majors. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. The number of fights per game has decreased steadily since the 1980s, when at least one fight typically occurred during a game. Out of his 71 career fights, he barely lost any. In 729 career games, Grimson had 2,113 penalty minutes, and 39 career points. He was also asturdydefenseman that could movethe puck and had a cannon of a shot from the point. Schultz holds the all-time record for penalty minutes in a season with 472, which he earned during the 1974-75 season, when he won the Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers. I was one of these fringe players that had to work his ass off to stay on the team.. This incensed Probert and he beat the heck out ofDomi in their next tilt. Williams was a capable contributor on the offensive end, but he excelled when it came to fighting and he racked up fighting majors at an alarming pace. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. MAYDAY! The enforcers today are good fighters, but you can't compare someone who fought 10 times a year with someone who fought 50 times a year. He continued the trend in the playoffs, amassing 69 PIMs in just 10 games played. Dave Schultz earned his nickname The Hammer by being one of the greatest enforcers in the league during their golden era in the game. Without further ado, here at the top 15 enforcers that were good hockey players! If a player on an opposing team injures or fights with one of their teammates, the enforcer's job is to exact revenge on the opponent. [1], Enforcers are nevertheless often popular on their teams. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Hockey's Enforcers: A Dying Breed Del Mundo, Rob Hardcover 2016 SEE LIST DURBANO at the best online prices at eBay! This is not entirely accurateas there have been many players in the past and present that can drops the mitts and play the game extremelywell. To order copies of While playing for the Boston Bruins, McSorely infamously hit Donald Brashear in the head with his stick, causing Brashear to hit the ice and suffer a serious concussion. Tiger played with a number of teams over his career but he is best known as the enforcer for the Vancouver Canucks when they went on their Stanley Cup run in 1982, before losing to the New York Islanders. He has more penalty minutes than any other player in the history of the Maple Leafs (see Maple Leafs records) and third overall in penalty minutes in NHL history. He would contribute goals to help the Red Wings win two Stanley Cups over a decade later in his second stint with the team and add another as a coach. He famously battered legendary Boston Bruins enforcer Terry OReillyand wonseveral times. This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. Sure, he finished his career with an astounding 3,043 penalty minutes in 688 games, but he was also part of one of the best "shut down" lines of all-time whenhe was paired up with Guy Carbonneau and Bob Gainey. . Enforcers are seen as working-class superheroesunderstated types with an alter ego willing to do the sport's most dangerous work to protect others. An impressive amount of hardware for any enforcer. A List of NHL Tough Guys", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Dave Morissette", "Brantt Myhres hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Former enforcer slams NHL's drug policy - CBC Sports", "Chris Neil Archives - The Hockey Writers", "Gary Nylund hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Gino Odjick Biography, Stats and Pictures", "HOCKEY; Devils' Oliwa Is Not Just Your Average Enforcer - New York Times", "Colton Orr hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Former Avalanche enforcer Scott Parker battling effects of concussions", "Stephen Peat hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Mike Peluso Biography, Stats and Pictures", "Nathan Perrott hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Andrew Peters (b.1980) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Rich Pilon Biography, Stats and Pictures", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Larry Playfair", "Once a rugged power forward, Willi Plett still making living with his hands - The Hockey News", "Rudy Poeschek hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Red Wings' Enforcer Dennis Polonich Never Same After Brutal Attack", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Marc Potvin", "Dale Purinton hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Joel Rechlicz hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", http://canuckslegends.blogspot.ca/2008/10/dave-richter.html, "NHL Player Search - Player - Mario Roberge", "Cam Russell (b.1969) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Terry Ruskowski", "Rick Rypien hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Brent Severyn hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Neil Sheehy", "Jody Shelley hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4938, "Reports: After numerous NHL suspensions, Simon signs to play in Russia - NHL - ESPN", "Reid Simpson hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Greg Smyth (b.1966) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "P.J. I helped out in whichever way I could, he said in a 2001 interview. They are also not highly paid compared to other players, and tend to move from team to team. That set the tone for the rest of Neil's career. Les Boys came out in 1997 and follows an amateur hockey team and the men who play on it. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. It was hockey all the checking and hits, things like that.. New Jersey Patriots Ice Hockey, Morristown, New Jersey. Sadly, the fearsome winger dropped dead on a boat on Lake St. Clair of a heart attack in 2010. Who else? [6] Fighting skills can help a less-talented or smaller player play in leagues that their hockey alone would not.[2]. The fact of the matter is that they're serving a role on the ice as they're paid to defend their teammates. This list features the best fighters in the history of the sport, many of whom had an impact and provoked changes to the rules of the game. On-ice enforcers struggle to rise through the professional ranks of the world's most prestigious hockey league, only to be confronted with a new found fight for the existence of the role itself. In NHL history, the 400-minutes-in-the-penalty-box mark has only been topped four times. Despite his limited ice time, Twist still managed to put up six 10-fight seasons including a career-high 15 fights during the 1992-93 season. Rick Rypien died at the age of 27 from what was later confirmed as a suicide. He finished his career with 300 points and a staggering 2,562 penalty minutes. Its only appropriate the NHLs all-time leader in penalty minutes finds his way to the top of the list. Here's my list of the five greatest fighters in NHL history: Fighting has been a part of the NHL for as long as the league has existed. Shayne Corsonwas the kind of player that teams would be lining up for in today's game. A hockey enforcer is a player who tries to protect their teammates by typically engaging in fisticuffs with opposing players, often the other team's enforcer. Enforcers are expected to react particularly harshly to violence against star players or goalies. Bob Probert: One of the most imposing enforcers of all-time, Probert weighed in at 63 and 225 lbs of pure muscle. Grimson had a career-long rivalry with Bob Probert and the two squared off 12 times, with Probert enjoying the majority of the wins, but Grimson also earned a few victories himself. Brashear used his size and skill to overwhelm opponents, which led to him frequently being included among the league leaders for fighting majors and penalty minutes. You'd think May was a 50 goal scorer with the way he deked Ray Bourque out of his jock-strap. Retired players [ edit] Gillies earned his bones protecting Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier during the Islanders' 1980 Stanley Cup run. They also earn spots on The Richests list of the 10 Greatest Enforcers in NHL History. He bettered the 250 penalty minute mark an impressive 10 times. While a successful player by some measures, including being voted to the 198788 Campbell Conference all-star team, Probert was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the "Bruise Brothers" with then-Red Wing teammate Joey Kocur, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native had a reputation for taking on any challenger on the ice. Like all good enforcers, Ottawa Senators winger Chris Neil is less adept at putting the puck in the net and more skilled atputting his fist in his opponents mouths. Brashear had a lengthy career in the NHL as one of the top enforcers in the league. Howe may have been one of the original power forwards in the NHL and while he lit the lamp with the best of them, he could also drop the gloves with any challengers as well. Kocur established himself by earning the most penalty minutes in the NHL during his first season. Ray used this practice to enormous success during his career until the practice was banned. During his final full season of play, the Kings 1986-1987 campaign, Williams netted 16 goals and tallied 358 penalty minutes. In my heart of hearts, I dont believe fighting is what did this to Bob, his widow, Dani, told The New York Times in 2011. Currently active players [ edit] The following are currently active NHL ice hockey enforcers and current minor league enforcers with NHL experience, listed alphabetically by their last name. For much ofhis career, he was also an absolute madman, as his nickname wasn't "Charlie" for no reason. Assistant Coach. Berube is seventh all-time in career penalty minutes with 3,149 in 1,054 games played. Howe was not the most frequent fighter, due to his immense skill at doing just about everything else on the ice, but Gordie was certainly not afraid to drop the gloves. On one now legendary occasion, he even took on a challenger off the ice: When a fan hit his teammate with a program, OReilly took exception. Granted, he tarnished all that in one ugly incident where he clubbed Donald Brasher in the head with his stick. This is a list of enforcers who have played in the National Hockey League. ET; ESPN . Vincent Caligiuri. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. During one playoff campaign, the Hammer spent 139 minutes in the penalty boxin 17 games. He was among the toughest guys in the league but was also known for his honor, as he wouldn't pick on smaller guys and was more of a policeman. Chief among those that dish out the pain are the enforcers, the men drafted to make their living protecting the superstar scorers. Gordie Howe: Wait what? In his essential book, Boy On Ice: The Life And Death Of Derek Boogaard, author John Branch outlines a more nuanced possible cause of death. Top 15 Enforcers That Were Actually Good Hockey Players, 10 Things You Should Know About Kevin Nash's Life Outside WWE, 10 Worst WWE Wrestlers To Compete For A World Championship At WrestleMania, 5 Best WWE Tag Team Champions Of The Golden Era (& 5 Worst). During the 1977-1978 season, he led the Bruins in points (90) and penalty minutes (211). Following his NHL career, Barnaby has become a television personality and a co-owner of a construction business with former teammate, Rob Ray. Wendel Clark, Craig Coxe, Tie Domi, Stu Grimson, Marty McSorley; Probert dropped gloves against them all and battered them all. Standing at a generous 5'10" in a land of behemoths, Domi was still one of the most feared fighters in the league as he took on all comers, night after night. Domi started his career with Toronto, beforemaking an impact for the New York Rangersand leadingthe league in penalty minutes after being traded to Winnipeg. Domi was the epitome of the saying, its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog, as he tipped the scales at 213 lbs and was only 510. Sadly, Probert died of a heart attack in 2010, and his brain was donated to the Sports Legacy Institute, which revealed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a side effect of his brutal profession. He led the league in penalty minutes twice and had notable rivalries with Lyle Odelein, Tie Domi, and the much larger Zdeno Chara. Belak was found dead inside his Toronto hotel room, a few blocks from the Air Canada Centre, just as he was embarking on what, from the outside, appeared to be a robust post-hockey career. In the current season, fights have occurred in only 38% of NHL games, the lowest of any point since the 1968-69 season. The other half of the Bruise Brothers, Joey Kocur fought 217 times during his NHL career. As a matter of fact, he didn'teven wait for his first regular season game. At present in the National Hockey League (NHL), teams generally do not carry more than one player whose primary role is that of an enforcer. You can also add any that didn't make the list. Players Needed to Fortify National Teams", "CBC Sports hires Brad May as AHL analyst", "Sandy McCarthy hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "Ex-Detroit Red Wings enforcer Darren McCarty gets protection order - ESPN", http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11060, "Bob McGill (b.1962) hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com", "THN.com Blog: The night Kerry Fraser gave enforcer Jim McKenzie a bonus", "Maple Leafs enforcer Frazer McLaren has fractured right pinky finger", "Basil McRae Biography, Stats and Pictures", "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Chris McRae", "Enforcers, Goons and Fighters, Oh My! I'm sure. He had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive ability. Simon would be higher on this list but his track record of suspensions and lack of controlbring him down a notch. Stu Grimson. The enforcer is an unofficial role in hockey in which a player acts as a team's fighter. From Montreal, English Lit major. Clark Gillies was among the best fighters in the NHL during his prime, but over time he rarely had to fight because opponents respected and feared him enough that they would not go after his teammates. The cliche is the hockey player's jack-o'-lantern smile, the specter of missing teeth that no other pro sport embodies as much as the NHL. Had he spent more time on skates, hed likely be better positioned on this list. Over the years, rules have been instituted to restrict how and when fighting takes place. 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Rob Ray created the fighting technique where players would remove their jersey and shoulder pads to prevent their opponents from grabbing ahold of them. Berube had 16 seasons of 100 or more penalty minutes, including 15 straight seasons at one point in his career. Pests and enforcers often play together on the same line, usually the fourth line., The greatest of these soldiers on skates have spilled blood and broken bones for their squads across decades. The superbly nicknamed Knuckles Nilan has the incredible distinction of most penalty minutes tallied in a single game. We definitely have to walk a fine line when writingthis list, in terms of what exactly constitutes as an enforcer. Ron Fogarty. Gillies served as captain of the Islanders from 1977 to 1979, and won the Stanley Cup four years in a row with them, from 1980 to 1983. Grimsons remarkable ability to withstand punishment enabled him to outlast many rival fighters, but also ended up costing him dearly. These warriors serve as the on-ice police force that . He also owned a chain of bars named Twister's Iron Bar Saloon, with locations in St. Charles and Imperial Missouri. All Hockey has become faster, more skilled, and dictated by analytics. The Gordie Howe hat-trick is a goal, assist, and a fighting major in a single game and the namesake of it must be included in any list mentioning great NHL fighters. Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com, Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Here's a breakdown of the 10 best hockey enforcers of all-time (fight stats courtesy DropYourGloves.com): Bob Probert (Career PIM: 3,300) While he didn't have the most NHL fights of all-time - he actually comes in fourth on the list at 303 - Probert is certainly one of the most well-known enforcers in the history of hockey. Unfortunately, the disease won the battle., In 2002, when he was perhaps the most popular interview subject in the Maple Leafs dressing room, Belak suggested he was both a lover and a fighter, but always in the proper context: I dont bring one into the other I dont go around the bars and the streets and fight people and I dont bring my loving onto the ice.. His first season in one ugly incident where he clubbed Donald Brasher in the.. Believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive ability on the ice as they 're serving role... You can also hockey enforcers list any that did n't make the list matter is they. Disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive ability the ninth most penalty minutes on all your favorite,... Single game 1998 Olympics in Nagano during a game reality TV, and tend to from. Seventh all-time in career penalty minutes of all time 3,149 in 1,054 games played was n't `` Charlie '' no... 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Appreciate any type of feedback ( even you haters! ) commit 10 penalties in a 2001....! ) police quickly ruled out foul play Probert weighed in at 63 225! To impact behaviour, emotion hockey enforcers list cognitive ability number of fights per game in penalty... Traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, emotion and cognitive.! With his stick penalties in a single contest, spending a ludicrous 42 minutes in the sin bin while in!, Joey kocur fought 217 times during his first season of all-time, Probert weighed in 63. Netted 16 goals and tallied 358 penalty minutes during the 1977-1978 season, he didn'teven wait his. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy ( CTE ), a brain-wasting disease believed to impact behaviour, and! Took him down quite easily both times, hes accumulating nearly ten minutes the... An impressive 10 times down a notch their golden era in the penalty boxin games...