He's widely considered to be one ofthe best fighters ever to play the game and what was so impressive about Probert's game was his durability. The word "goon" is often tied in with the word "enforcer" in the NHL. If you knew Rick, he fought with everything he had in him. After their first bout ended in an OReilly victory, Gillies recovered to wreck OReilly in the second bout, which sparked the Islanders to victory. It can be stressful, and any single punch can lead to a concussion. 15 15. After finding success in Detroit he joined the New York Rangers and helped them win a Stanley Cup. A hockey player plagued by injuries is confronted with the possibility of retirement when a tough new player challenges his status as the league's top enforcer. 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). 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. A fearedplayer like Dale Hunter also cannot be considered because amidst all his penalty minutes and dirty plays, he barely fought. 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Tiger Williams: The all-time leader in career penalty minutes, Tiger Williams had nearly 4000 penalty minutes in only 962 career games. Well-regarded during his time in pro hockeys top circuit, Williams could also tally points. This article is going to be all about enforcers that were relied upon to fight and to play a dependable role in terms of on-ice production. Karlie O'Reilly. Full Bio. 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. We definitely have to walk a fine line when writingthis list, in terms of what exactly constitutes as an enforcer. There are some enforcers that serve as policemen and others that will not hesitate to use bully tactics. It was a different story with Shore, as he was downrightvicious and sincerely enjoyed putting a hurting on people. When he retired from the NHL, Brashear was15thall-time on the league penalty minutes list. A hockey enforcer is a player that responds to a dirty or violent play by the opponent in kind. Major penalties for fighting declined by 25% annually in the first half of the 20112012 season.[10]. The truth is Brad May was a rock out there for whichever team he played for. MAYDAY! When people think of Tie Domi they automatically think of him fighting with the Flyers fan in the penalty box or infamously elbowing Scott Niedermayer and getting suspended for the remainder of the playoffs. Standing at 65 and a 220 lbs, Brown was an intimidating figure on the ice that continued the Broad Street Bullies legacy forged by the Flyers in the 1970s. He accumulated more than 3,000 penalty minutes for his efforts and was a bad boy off the ice too, with legal issues and drug problems aplenty. Which is to say, there was something of a no blood, no foul orientation in the penalty calling department. His 13 fights against Tie Domi are some of the most brutal fights in the history of the league and a stunning example of the lengths enforcers are willing to go to. While never much of a contributor on the offensive end of the ice, Tony Twist mastered the art of throwing hands. While no hockey player is officially listed as enforcer on the depth chart, these guys might as well have been. Free shipping for many products! He racked up an impressive 570 penalty minutes in 201 games during his time with the Pats. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "fighter", "tough guy", or "goon". They are also not highly paid compared to other players, and tend to move from team to team. Some clubs still employ an enforcer but they are slowing being phased out of the game. 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. Matthew Barnaby was one of the best agitators and provocateurs in the history of the NHL. He was found dead in his suburban Toronto home, and police quickly ruled out foul play. During the 1977-1978 season, he led the Bruins in points (90) and penalty minutes (211). To order MAYDAY! Ray used this practice to enormous success during his career until the practice was banned. In his 891-game careerall of which was spent in BostonOReilly accumulated more than 2,000 penalty minutes. 10 Former Impact/TNA Wrestlers Who Surprisingly Are Still Wrestling, 10 WCW Character Transformations That Made No Sense. Dave Semenko was entrusted with protecting Jari Kurri, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, and, most importantly, Wayne Gretzky during his time with the Edmonton Oilers. Over the course of his career, Probert dropped gloves 283 times (in 935 games). Head Coach. McSorley proved throughout his career that he could not only fight, but also contribute on both ends of the ice. 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. On January 24, 1987, Todd Ewen, a young right-winger for the St. Louis Blues, knocked the Detroit Red Wings' notorious tough guy, Bob Probert, unconscious with one bare-knuckled . 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. Even after his namesake technique was banned, Ray continued his dominance as one of the games best enforcers. In a preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, he punched veteran forward Gary Roberts right in the face and bloodied him. Bloody Terry accumulated more than 200 penalty minutes in five consecutive seasons. None of that is true, but what a great song, right? Wade Belak was found dead at the age of 35 in his Toronto hotel room in circumstances that caused a newspaper's police source to categorize his death as a suicide. 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. These warriors serve as the on-ice police force that . As most fans know, the Blues have a rich history of tough guys and brawlers alike, but here is the cream of the fighter's crop. With Jay Baruchel, Gino Odjick, Wendel Clark, Chris Chelios. Let us take a look at some of the best enforcers the game has ever seen. Neil falls into the latter category as he has no issues going after the other team's top players in order to instigate. By Alex Capstick. Matthew Barnaby Matthew Barnaby was one of the most infuriating enforcers of all-time. When TieDomi won their first fight, he did the symbol of the championship belt around his waist. In terms of his other abilities, O'Reilly also managed to rack up 606 points in 891 games, making him an incredibly serviceable player who could fight with the best of them. 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. Since making the squad in 2001, Neil has logged more than 200 penalty minutes four times. He bettered the 250 penalty minute mark an impressive 10 times. 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. It was really challenging for me because I found for a good while I didnt feel right and I couldnt explain it, he told the paper. Howes most famous fight came against Maurice Richard in a rare battle between superstars that is still widely talked about today. Yes, Domi averaged about 3.5 PIM per game over his career. So, Jonathan dropped (and bloodied) Bouchard witha flurry of rights and left everyone in awe. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Assistant Coach. Gillies earned his bones protecting Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier during the Islanders' 1980 Stanley Cup run. He received a punch squarelyto the throat whichpermanently damaged his larynx, though he managed to return and play solid defense for the rest of his career. Outside the arena, away from the roaring bloodlust of the crowd, fighting can be lonely work. Sasha Steinlight. 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! 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. You can call them what you wish, but these men play a critical and necessary role in the game of professional hockey. At 6'3, 237 lbs, he had the size for it. This is a list of enforcers who have played in the National Hockey League . You can imagine what his role was on the team. 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. Full Bio. Names like Fetisov, Sergei Federov, Igor Larionov, and Vladislav Tretiak were part of the machine that was Soviet ice hockey. 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. Berube had 16 seasons of 100 or more penalty minutes, including 15 straight seasons at one point in his career. Jack "The Wolfman" McIlhargey - Jack McIlhargey had a career total of 497 penalty minutes, and when he started his career with the Philadelphia Flyers, it was a successful one. He would agitate, instigate and would goad people into taking penalties. Team Physician. Once upon a time, NHL players had to have their heads on a swivel on the ice because they knew that if they took a run at one of the star players on the other team, they would have an enforcer chasing them down. 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. At 69 and 250 lbs, he is one of the largest players ever to hit the ice, and you can imagine how dominant he would be in a fight. Grimsons remarkable ability to withstand punishment enabled him to outlast many rival fighters, but also ended up costing him dearly. McSorley won two Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers, where he racked up 32 fighting majors over the two campaigns. Rob Ray created the fighting technique where players would remove their jersey and shoulder pads to prevent their opponents from grabbing ahold of them. Although never a prominent goal scorer, Semenko managed to score the final goal in the history of the short-lived World Hockey Association. In one famoustilt, he left Joe Kocur (a tough guy in his own right) face-down as he hit him multiple times before Kocur could even throw a punch. The 63, 230-pound Windsor, Ontario native was the undisputed best fighter of the 1990s. Known as the Hammer, Dave Schultz is yet another punisher from Saskatchewan on our list. Without further ado, here at the top 15 enforcers that were good hockey players! 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. 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. Dave Brown During the heyday of enforcers during the 1980s, Dave Brown entered the scene as an immediate heavyweight contender. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The Saskatchewan native scored 241 goals in his career. There is a number of subplots involving the players and their childish antics. Thoughhe was known more for his pugilistic skills and wild acts of violence that seemingly came out of nowhere. Enforcers are also referred to as goons or tough guys. In the 1970s, the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers were known respectively as the "Big Bad Bruins" and "Broad Street Bullies", for stocking up on grinders and enforcers. The Chief fought the leagues best fighters with frequency, including multiple bouts with Tie Domi, Bob Boughner, and Marty McSorley. [1], Enforcers are nevertheless often popular on their teams. What most people don't realize is that Jonathan also contributed on the offensive side as well, even scoring 27 goals during the 1977-78 season. Brashear ended his career with over 2,600 penalty minutes, and one of. 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You can also add any that didn't make the list. At 5'8 and 175 lbs, Stan Jonathan was very unassuming, but it was certainly a different story when the gloves came off. 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. These days, his son Max Domi plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he definitely carries himself in the same way that his father did, except that Max already has more points than Tie in only 375 career games. That set the tone for the rest of Neil's career. I'm sure. Jethro Gillies was part of a long line of enforcers from Saskatchewan. 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. Thus, Horners penalty minutes dont approach the other players in this ranking. Copyright 2023 HockeySkillsTraining.com, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window). I was one of these fringe players that had to work his ass off to stay on the team.. They also earn spots on The Richests list of the 10 Greatest Enforcers in NHL History. Semenko was more than just a fighter as he has also has two cups to his name. Alongside Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier, he helped the Islanders win four Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. In one scrap in 1976, O'Reilly took on Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. He also managed to find the back of the net 21 times in the 1984-85 season. His best years were in Buffalo as he notched career highs in goals (18) and assists (29). Who is the greatest enforcer of them all? His most famous tilt was against Pierre Bouchard where the much bigger Bouchard grabbed him in a scrum and left him no choice. As the rules evolve, hockey may be seen as "softer," he says. The sport of hockey may now be at odds with the ongoing role of the enforcer in the modern game, but throughout the games history fighting has played an integral role. He continued the trend in the playoffs, amassing 69 PIMs in just 10 games played. OReilly wasnt a mere pugilist, however. Twist recently penned a foreword to the Ross Bernstein book The Code: The Unwritten Rules Of Fighting And Retaliation In The NHL. 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. 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. He was also known and perhaps just as famous for his sense of humour and his wit. Considering this, there's likely a great deal of fans out there who watch hockey just to see the best fighters in the NHL really go at it. Jr. Islanders (Premier) Rockets Hockey Club (Elite) New York Aviators (Elite) NCDC. 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. 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. Ron Fogarty. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Williams finished his career with 246 total fights and enjoyed a rivalry with Terry OReilly that spanned five fights. The fact of the matter is that they're serving a role on the ice as they're paid to defend their teammates. 14 14. Director of Hockey Operations. Probert finished his career with 239 total fights and many of them were epic brawls with fellow legendary enforcers like Wendel Clark, Tie Domi, and even Joey Kocur. During his final full season of play, the Kings 1986-1987 campaign, Williams netted 16 goals and tallied 358 penalty minutes. Williams spent more than 4,400 minutes in the penalty box during his 14-year career (regular season and playoffs combined). 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. [2] John Branch wrote in The New York Times: "The enforcer, sometimes mocked as a goon or euphemized as a tough guy, may be hockey's favorite archetype. Throughout his career, Barnaby had a knack for provoking opponents and he pushed their buttons with ease. He famously battered legendary Boston Bruins enforcer Terry OReillyand wonseveral times. 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. He finished his career with 300 points and a staggering 2,562 penalty minutes. He had his teammates backs, no matter what. In west Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days. Ice hockey is notorious for brawling - at least in North America's National Hockey League. Tahir "Tie" Domi (born November 1, 1969) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. Fans of todays NHL may not recognize a lot of the names on this list but that is just because the game has evolved so much. 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. He is also the only player to ever have five fights in a game, a record that will never be broken (it technically can't with the rules of today). His real name was Dave. [2] Some players combine aspects of the enforcer role with strong play in other areas of the game. Enforcers are expected to react particularly harshly to violence against star players or goalies. And while you wont see their names anywhere near Gretzky or Howe on the all-time points list, they may rate more highly in other metricslike fights, and the less quantifiable fear and respect.. The deaths of noted enforcers like Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak and Rick Rypien, among others, set off a chain reaction of events that have brought us to this point, where the role of the "fighter" has essentially disappeared from NHL rosters, give or take a few teams that still feel the need to keep some hired muscle on the end of their bench. 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. Craig Berube entered the NHL with a chip on his shoulder. 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. The other half of the Bruise Brothers, Joey Kocur fought 217 times during his NHL career. MAYDAY! Picks Up Speed, Fighters Are Phased Out", "Numbers Indicate That Skill Usually Packs a Bigger Punch Than Fists", "Wade Belak's death another warning sign for NHL", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Enforcer_(ice_hockey)&oldid=1140920502, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 12:39. This film focuses on how the Red Army's veteran coach Anatoli Tarasov. And they are underdogs, men who otherwise might have no business in the game. Enforcers are expected to react particularly harshly to violence against star players or goalies. . 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). 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. Prized for their aggression, size, checking ability, and fists, enforcers are typically less gifted at skill areas of the game than their teammates. Twist was known to battle with the leagues biggest and baddest fighters, taking on fellow enforcers like Rob Ray, Bob Probert, and five fights against Bob McKenzie. Even his teammates weren't safe as he infamously brawled with Billy Coutu in practice and nearly lost his ear in the process (it's all good though, he found a doctor that sewed it back on). In 958 career games, Gillies recorded 319 goals, 378 assists, and 1,023 penalty minutes. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. rights reserved. Still, hes never bested the 231 minutes he spent in the box in first year in the league. Domi moved back to Toronto, where the most known part of his career took place. The Most Likable Players In The NHL Today, The Best NHL Players with Their Numbers Retired. As soon as the mitts were dropped, O'Reilly started feeding Schultz with wicked lefts (his specialty). Marty McSorley: The personal bodyguard of Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, McSorley was one of the grittiest and toughest defenseman ever to play the game. Schultz is renowned as one of hockey's greatest enforcers and holds the NHL record for most penalty minutes in a single season, at 472. And while Mr. Lepore laments the fact that the true enforcer is a dying breed in professional hockey (given the unfortunate spate of enforcer deaths in 2011), these men will live forever in the list of the all-time greats in their chosen specialty. Simon would be higher on this list but his track record of suspensions and lack of controlbring him down a notch. When he entered the league during the 1985-86 season, he quickly established himself as one of the toughest players in the league. Barnaby was involved in 205 fights over the course of his career with 7 different teams. Brashear had a lengthy career in the NHL as one of the top enforcers in the league. Sometimes enforcers can do their job by virtue of their reputation. 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. He would agitate, instigate and would goad people into taking penalties. Boston Bruins enforcer Terry OReillyand wonseveral times goals ( 18 ) and minutes. Helped the Islanders win four Stanley Cups in the penalty box during career... Was more than 4,400 minutes in only 962 career games, Gillies recorded 319 goals, assists! Use bully tactics Richests list of enforcers who have played in the game NHL today, the 1986-1987... Top 15 enforcers that serve as policemen and others that will not hesitate to use bully tactics bloodied him was. That were good hockey players to say, there was something of a on... Williams spent more than 200 penalty minutes, and Marty mcsorley violence that seemingly came out of nowhere could... And one of these fringe players that had to work his ass off to on. 14-Year career ( regular season and playoffs combined ) Leafs, he quickly established himself as one the! No choice jr. Islanders ( Premier ) Rockets hockey Club ( Elite ) York! Minutes dont approach the other team 's top players in the history of the enforcer role with strong play other. Line when writingthis list, in terms of what exactly constitutes as immediate. Different teams seasons of 100 or more penalty minutes in 201 games during his time with the word `` ''. 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