This is a list of enforcers who have played in the National Hockey League. In the age of NHL Disciplinary Committee reviews and video replay, this role has been diminished, but fighting can still serve as a valuable tool for players to use to motivate their teammates and get the crowd back into a game. During his ten seasons, he fought 87 times and lifted the Stanley Cup twice. With a fabulous nickname bestowed upon him, Terry OReilly of the Boston Bruins is a legend of the enforcer role. Me neither Simon was actually a veryreliableforward in his earlier years in the league. From Montreal, English Lit major. Brashear has also participated in boxing and MMA matches, utilizing his considerable hand skills off of the ice. At 5'8 and 175 lbs, Stan Jonathan was very unassuming, but it was certainly a different story when the gloves came off. Unfortunately, McSorley had a habit of taking things too far, which he did in 2000 by assaulting Donald Brashear with a stick, ultimately leading to McSorleys suspension and retirement. Neil falls into the latter category as he has no issues going after the other team's top players in order to instigate. 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. Tahir "Tie" Domi (born November 1, 1969) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. The bone-crushing Boston native somehow managed to commit 10 penalties in a single contest, spending a ludicrous 42 minutes in the box. Alongside Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, he helped the Islanders win four Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. During the heyday of enforcers during the 1980s, Dave Brown entered the scene as an immediate heavyweight contender. Hunter was incredibly skilled with the puck and earned 1,020 points during his career. It wasa costly penalty that shifted the momentum in the series. Dave Manson was a dependable force on D for an impressive 20 NHL seasons. Tocchet then developed into one of the games premier power forwards, with five30 goal seasons. Even Don Cherry himself admitted that he thought Jonathan was about to get fed. While never much of a contributor on the offensive end of the ice, Tony Twist mastered the art of throwing hands. The enforcer took off into the stands after the offending party, which earned him an eight-game suspension. His mother, Lorraine, said he had been battling depression. Domi found the net 100 times in his career, but hell be best remembered for accumulating 3,505 penalty minutes in his time in uniform (the third most in NHL history). Howes most famous fight came against Maurice Richard in a rare battle between superstars that is still widely talked about today. Referees are limited in their powers to punish players for illegal or dangerous behavior and fighting was used by players to police these offenses themselves. McSorley won two Stanley Cups in his career, but unfortunately he may best be known for his vicious slash against Donald Brashear that ended in a lengthy suspension. Sasha Steinlight. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. Gillies played for the New York Islanders and the Buffalo Sabres during his 14-year NHL career (1974-1988). It was a pretty sad situation and I didnt know what to do about it., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. 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. Over the years, rules have been instituted to restrict how and when fighting takes place. Tommy Davis. How do the rankings stack up? 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. OReilly famously led the Bruins charge over the glass at Madison Square Garden to protect teammate Stan Jonathan. The Most Likable Players In The NHL Today, The Best NHL Players with Their Numbers Retired. He finished his career with 1,468 penalty minutes in 749 regular-season games. Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. [12] New York Times sportswriter John Branch covered Boogaard's death and the epidemic of chronic traumatic encephalopathy that has come as a result of frequent head trauma sustained by hockey enforcers. McSorley won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, where he racked up 32 fighting majors over the two campaigns. After all, a Gordie Howe hat trick is when a player scores a goal, gets an assist, and has a fight in the same game. An update to yesterday's Watch List: New Teams that have clinched playoff berths since yesterday. If you want to see what a classic NHL enforcer was like, look at Domis career stat line: 1,020 games played, 245 career points, and 3,515 penalty minutes, good for third all-time in NHL History. Stu Grimson, who earned the nickname "The Grim Reaper" in his 14 seasons in the NHL, was the quintessential goon. Throughout the years there have been many great players, but also many great enforcers. Brendan Shanahan: Yes another current hockey executive, the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was one of the greatest power forwards in NHL history. This is not entirely accurateas there have been many players in the past and present that can drops the mitts and play the game e. The word "goon" is often tied in with the word "enforcer" in the NHL. 15 15. Brown accumulated 148 fights during his career with the Flyers, Oilers, and Sharks and even managed to win a Stanley Cup during his tenure in Edmonton. Assistant Coach. Athletic Trainer. 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. Some clubs still employ an enforcer but they are slowing being phased out of the game. During the summer of 2011, three NHL enforcers died. 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. Domi moved back to Toronto, where the most known part of his career took place. Following his NHL career, Barnaby has become a television personality and a co-owner of a construction business with former teammate, Rob Ray. While not generally categorized as an enforcer, Montador still fought more than 60 times over his NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com, the online encyclopedia for fighting in hockey. Enforcers are typically among the lowest scoring players on the team and receive a smaller share of ice time. Ray finished his career with 241 fights and led the league in penalty minutes during two seasons. Best known for playing with the Detroit Red Wings, Kocur was an intimidating figure with a devastating right hand that he used with great frequency. Standing at an intimidating 65 and 240lbs, The Grim Reaper took on all comers during his time in the league playing for eight different teams. Their circumstances vary, but in the wake of Todd Ewens death, attention is again being focused on similarities found among NHL enforcers who have died in an era of increasing concern regarding repeated head trauma in sports. But he can't be considered an enforcer because he doesn't fight often and it's not his main job, as he's relied on to produce points. Prized for their aggression, size, checking ability, and fists, enforcers are typically less gifted at skill areas of the game than their teammates. Enforcers are different from pests, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. He's also been a stapleon Ottawa's third line for well over a decade and is the type of player that every team wants. Not bad for a "goon.". However, he had to tone down his act after a fight with Montreal Canadiens forward Sergio Momesso. The following are currently active NHL ice hockey enforcers and current minor league enforcers with NHL experience, listed alphabetically by their last name. While not generally categorized as an enforcer, Montador still fought more than 60 times over his NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com, the online encyclopedia for fighting in hockey. 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. Jr. Islanders (Premier) Rockets Hockey Club (Elite) New York Aviators (Elite) NCDC. He eventually retired with the thirdmost all-time. Nobody will ever forget the time he got ejected from the game and decided to take on the entire Bruins bench on his way out, but what's often forgotten about Nilan is how effective a hockey player he was. At times, he would take heavy haymakers and stand there unfazed until he would throw one of his own and drop his opponent like a sack of bricks. Known as the Hammer, Dave Schultz is yet another punisher from Saskatchewan on our list. Nilan averaged more penalty minutes per game than any other player in history and also holds the record for most penalty minutes in a single game with 42. Here's my list of the five greatest fighters in NHL history: Bloody Terry accumulated more than 200 penalty minutes in five consecutive seasons. 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. What about John Scott? Williams finished his career with 246 total fights and enjoyed a rivalry with Terry OReilly that spanned five fights. 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. Full Bio. After going undrafted, Berube broke into the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and quickly established himself as an enforcer by fighting Bob Probert three times. Tahir Tie Domi looks like a guy ready to punch your face in, doesnt he? The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Domi earned his stripes with the Winnipeg Jets, but it was with his trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1995 that he became the most popular enforcer in the league and a beloved figure among Leafs fans. What more can you ask for from an enforcer? Yet fights, both premeditated and spontaneous still break out routinely in hockey games, as players attempt to adhere to The Code that is kept among themselves. The New Jersey Patriots are a youth ice hockey travel program based in Northern New Jersey. 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. Tiger Williams: The all-time leader in career penalty minutes, Tiger Williams had nearly 4000 penalty minutes in only 962 career games. 5. Anthony Rory Twist (born May 9, 1968 in Sherwood Park, Alberta) is a former professional ice hockey player. 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. Tales of Horner wrecking people are legendary. Rob Ray: Ray dominated NHL fighters throughout the 90s and into the 2000s and was well-known as an all-time popular Buffalo Sabre. Five30 goal seasons an enforcer his ten seasons, he fought 87 times and lifted the Cup... 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