Favorite lesser-known enforcers?
- Thread starter Bhrangerfan0809
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WADEugottaBELAKthat
Nikishin turning heads.
Most 90´s Flames fans, me included, loved them some Sandy McCarthy!
3 former Devils:
Mike Peluso
Randy McKay
and the Polish Hammer, Krzysztof Oliwa
Mike Peluso
Randy McKay
and the Polish Hammer, Krzysztof Oliwa
mattihp
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DangeRouss
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I've the pleasure to assist some games here in Bordeaux
He just reaches the 100 PIM bar (in 29 games) lol
seems like rejuvenated
and u know what ? the team is named The Boxers ahah
DaaaaB's
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Joel Theriault, Jacques Dube, Louis Bedard, Manny Frechette, Kurtis Swanson, Dannick Lessard, Curtis Tidball. All exciting fighters to watch from the LNAH's heyday. I'd add Mirasty, Bosse, Sugden and Cote but they're all pretty well known.
For the NHL Darrin Kimble, Dan Kordic, Todd Ewen and Ken Baumgartner were guys I loved watching as a kid who probably weren't top ten fighters. Not really lesser known tho.
Some underrated fighters are Bob Gassoff, Battleship Kelly, Curt Fraser, Glen Cochrane, Jay Wells, Dave Richter, Jim McKenzie and Paul Laus.
For the NHL Darrin Kimble, Dan Kordic, Todd Ewen and Ken Baumgartner were guys I loved watching as a kid who probably weren't top ten fighters. Not really lesser known tho.
Some underrated fighters are Bob Gassoff, Battleship Kelly, Curt Fraser, Glen Cochrane, Jay Wells, Dave Richter, Jim McKenzie and Paul Laus.
SotasicA
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A lot of Hawks fall in this category:
Jim Cummins was my all-time favourite. A guy who came in to the Hawks being a nobody. Struggled to stay in the league. A working class hero. He was reckless and lost a lot, but always delivered an entertaining bout and made sure to hurt the other guy. He ate up a bunch to get in one lick. And he looked like Roman Reigns. A rugged handsome man for a teenage boy to look up to. That old time helmet was awesome too.
He had some of the most entertaining fights ever.
Cam Russell was the same, but an even worse at defending himself. He lost a bunch, but he was a young gun at the time and I liked his effort. That meant a lot to me. He knew he was gonna get beat, but he never hesitated to defend a teammate. That to me is better than being a super huge roided up beast who was just kicking ass and taking names. Those guys had no REASON to fear anyone. They weren't as heroic, if you get my drift. Also, I somehow always appreciated enforcers who played the d-position.
Speaking of which, there's two more coming...
I LOVED David Koci's short stint as a Blackhawk. Just a wrecking ball out there. And a decent fighter, not the best, but better than the two stated above.
Speaking of reckless and insane, Enrico Ciccone. He was hell on skates and caused mayhem everywhere, including the stands. Pretty frustrating to watch as a player, but entertaining as f***. Was the league PIM leader one season.
Mike Peluso also lead the league in PIMs as a Hawk back when I first started watching, but I don't necessarily think he belongs in this thread. He was super popular and famous and fought everyone and everybody ranks him quite high, I think. Just thought I'd mention him because he fits the narrative.
My more recent favourites include Ryan Vandenbussche and Scott Daniels. Vandy maybe doesn't belong here, for reasons similar to Peluso's, but he was just an entertaining fighter. Daniels never played for the Hawks but he brought that working class ethos that I could not resist, just watching his games. He was not as tough as his teammate in Philly Dan Kordic, but I vastly preferred the crazy (and able in his own right) Daniels. He'd take on all the heavies. And I think that fourth line, the Dan line, was great for the Flyers: Scott Daniels - Daniel Lacroix - Dan Kordic. I remember looking forward to seeing the Flyers play the Canadiens, and I WASN'T EVEN A FAN OF EITHER TEAM, just because I knew the Dan-line would match up against the Habs' Darcy Tucker - Scott Thornton - Turner Stevenson line, which also included a couple of my favourite players (especially Turner Stevenson).
Daniels' career was short-lived, but he still is one of my favourite Whalers and that season he had with the Flyers made me a fan even more.
I know I name-dropped so many players already that I should stop now.
Jim Cummins was my all-time favourite. A guy who came in to the Hawks being a nobody. Struggled to stay in the league. A working class hero. He was reckless and lost a lot, but always delivered an entertaining bout and made sure to hurt the other guy. He ate up a bunch to get in one lick. And he looked like Roman Reigns. A rugged handsome man for a teenage boy to look up to. That old time helmet was awesome too.
He had some of the most entertaining fights ever.
Cam Russell was the same, but an even worse at defending himself. He lost a bunch, but he was a young gun at the time and I liked his effort. That meant a lot to me. He knew he was gonna get beat, but he never hesitated to defend a teammate. That to me is better than being a super huge roided up beast who was just kicking ass and taking names. Those guys had no REASON to fear anyone. They weren't as heroic, if you get my drift. Also, I somehow always appreciated enforcers who played the d-position.
Speaking of which, there's two more coming...
I LOVED David Koci's short stint as a Blackhawk. Just a wrecking ball out there. And a decent fighter, not the best, but better than the two stated above.
Speaking of reckless and insane, Enrico Ciccone. He was hell on skates and caused mayhem everywhere, including the stands. Pretty frustrating to watch as a player, but entertaining as f***. Was the league PIM leader one season.
Mike Peluso also lead the league in PIMs as a Hawk back when I first started watching, but I don't necessarily think he belongs in this thread. He was super popular and famous and fought everyone and everybody ranks him quite high, I think. Just thought I'd mention him because he fits the narrative.
My more recent favourites include Ryan Vandenbussche and Scott Daniels. Vandy maybe doesn't belong here, for reasons similar to Peluso's, but he was just an entertaining fighter. Daniels never played for the Hawks but he brought that working class ethos that I could not resist, just watching his games. He was not as tough as his teammate in Philly Dan Kordic, but I vastly preferred the crazy (and able in his own right) Daniels. He'd take on all the heavies. And I think that fourth line, the Dan line, was great for the Flyers: Scott Daniels - Daniel Lacroix - Dan Kordic. I remember looking forward to seeing the Flyers play the Canadiens, and I WASN'T EVEN A FAN OF EITHER TEAM, just because I knew the Dan-line would match up against the Habs' Darcy Tucker - Scott Thornton - Turner Stevenson line, which also included a couple of my favourite players (especially Turner Stevenson).
Daniels' career was short-lived, but he still is one of my favourite Whalers and that season he had with the Flyers made me a fan even more.
I know I name-dropped so many players already that I should stop now.
SotasicA
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Yes! Super entertaining fighter. No defense to be seen when Kimble got going.
Definitely. Oliwa was a top 10 heavy in the league at one point. And the other 2 are legends of hockey and Stanley Cup champions.
Doesn't belong in this thread. He was the heavyweight champ and the guy to beat in 1993-94. He was on an insane run that season and everybody knows Sandy beat Probert.
Agreed on both.
Kyte's a legend. One of the best ever. Doesn't belong.
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SotasicA
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Nothing compared to his brother, though Dan may have been an even better technical fighter.
DaaaaB's
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- Apr 24, 2004
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A lot of Hawks fall in this category:
Jim Cummins was my all-time favourite. A guy who came in to the Hawks being a nobody. Struggled to stay in the league. A working class hero. He was reckless and lost a lot, but always delivered an entertaining bout and made sure to hurt the other guy. He ate up a bunch to get in one lick. And he looked like Roman Reigns. A rugged handsome man for a teenage boy to look up to. That old time helmet was awesome too.
He had some of the most entertaining fights ever.
Cam Russell was the same, but an even worse at defending himself. He lost a bunch, but he was a young gun at the time and I liked his effort. That meant a lot to me. He knew he was gonna get beat, but he never hesitated to defend a teammate. That to me is better than being a super huge roided up beast who was just kicking ass and taking names. Those guys had no REASON to fear anyone. They weren't as heroic, if you get my drift. Also, I somehow always appreciated enforcers who played the d-position.
Speaking of which, there's two more coming...
I LOVED David Koci's short stint as a Blackhawk. Just a wrecking ball out there. And a decent fighter, not the best, but better than the two stated above.
Speaking of reckless and insane, Enrico Ciccone. He was hell on skates and caused mayhem everywhere, including the stands. Pretty frustrating to watch as a player, but entertaining as ****. Was the league PIM leader one season.
Mike Peluso also lead the league in PIMs as a Hawk back when I first started watching, but I don't necessarily think he belongs in this thread. He was super popular and famous and fought everyone and everybody ranks him quite high, I think. Just thought I'd mention him because he fits the narrative.
My more recent favourites include Ryan Vandenbussche and Scott Daniels. Vandy maybe doesn't belong here, for reasons similar to Peluso's, but he was just an entertaining fighter. Daniels never played for the Hawks but he brought that working class ethos that I could not resist, just watching his games. He was not as tough as his teammate in Philly Dan Kordic, but I vastly preferred the crazy (and able in his own right) Daniels. He'd take on all the heavies. And I think that fourth line, the Dan line, was great for the Flyers: Scott Daniels - Daniel Lacroix - Dan Kordic. I remember looking forward to seeing the Flyers play the Canadiens, and I WASN'T EVEN A FAN OF EITHER TEAM, just because I knew the Dan-line would match up against the Habs' Darcy Tucker - Scott Thornton - Turner Stevenson line, which also included a couple of my favourite players (especially Turner Stevenson).
Daniels' career was short-lived, but he still is one of my favourite Whalers and that season he had with the Flyers made me a fan even more.
I know I name-dropped so many players already that I should stop now.
Nice list. I especially loved Vandenbussche, Cummins and Daniels. Really entertaining fighters, shouldve put them on my list. Ciccone was nut, entertaining to watch like you said. Koci was a beast, loved watching him in the AHL. I almost forgot about Turner Stevenson. Loved him and Thornton both. Really good light heavyweights. Another guy who was more of a light heavy but would sometimes go with heavyweights was Grant Marshall. Shayne Corson too.
Paul Higgins played 25 games with the Leafs 0 goal and 0 assist 151 PM in Toronto 81-83. The fans would chant Higgins, Higgins it was classic. Motor City Smitty was a tough customer as well.
Messrules11
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LouJersey
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HFBS
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My ever lasting memory of him is him desperately trying to shake his elbow pad off while the other guy is pounding him in the head.
Dody Wood was my absolute favorite. Not the biggest guy, but fought everybody without hesitation.
SotasicA
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He was also involved in PL3's signature bout:
And in fact, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond is another worthy addition to this thread. He had very entertaining fights in the NHL, though it was towards the twilight of the enforcer era and thus against weaker opposition.
Last edited:
- Mar 10, 2010
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A lot of Hawks fall in this category:
Jim Cummins was my all-time favourite. A guy who came in to the Hawks being a nobody. Struggled to stay in the league. A working class hero. He was reckless and lost a lot, but always delivered an entertaining bout and made sure to hurt the other guy. He ate up a bunch to get in one lick. And he looked like Roman Reigns. A rugged handsome man for a teenage boy to look up to. That old time helmet was awesome too.
He had some of the most entertaining fights ever.
Cam Russell was the same, but an even worse at defending himself. He lost a bunch, but he was a young gun at the time and I liked his effort. That meant a lot to me. He knew he was gonna get beat, but he never hesitated to defend a teammate. That to me is better than being a super huge roided up beast who was just kicking ass and taking names. Those guys had no REASON to fear anyone. They weren't as heroic, if you get my drift. Also, I somehow always appreciated enforcers who played the d-position.
Speaking of which, there's two more coming...
I LOVED David Koci's short stint as a Blackhawk. Just a wrecking ball out there. And a decent fighter, not the best, but better than the two stated above.
Speaking of reckless and insane, Enrico Ciccone. He was hell on skates and caused mayhem everywhere, including the stands. Pretty frustrating to watch as a player, but entertaining as ****. Was the league PIM leader one season.
Mike Peluso also lead the league in PIMs as a Hawk back when I first started watching, but I don't necessarily think he belongs in this thread. He was super popular and famous and fought everyone and everybody ranks him quite high, I think. Just thought I'd mention him because he fits the narrative.
My more recent favourites include Ryan Vandenbussche and Scott Daniels. Vandy maybe doesn't belong here, for reasons similar to Peluso's, but he was just an entertaining fighter. Daniels never played for the Hawks but he brought that working class ethos that I could not resist, just watching his games. He was not as tough as his teammate in Philly Dan Kordic, but I vastly preferred the crazy (and able in his own right) Daniels. He'd take on all the heavies. And I think that fourth line, the Dan line, was great for the Flyers: Scott Daniels - Daniel Lacroix - Dan Kordic. I remember looking forward to seeing the Flyers play the Canadiens, and I WASN'T EVEN A FAN OF EITHER TEAM, just because I knew the Dan-line would match up against the Habs' Darcy Tucker - Scott Thornton - Turner Stevenson line, which also included a couple of my favourite players (especially Turner Stevenson).
Daniels' career was short-lived, but he still is one of my favourite Whalers and that season he had with the Flyers made me a fan even more.
I know I name-dropped so many players already that I should stop now.
Hell of a list of really gutsy fighters. That was crazy era with so much fighting. Feels like all these Hawks were Keith Magnuson clons......incredibly brave, do anything for a teammate, fearless fighters with no defense.
Thedogo
Dogs are superior to humans in every way
I'm going to go with a guy from the 50s in the old EHL. John Brophy, there's a book that either has come out or is coming out and I plan on getting it for Christmas this year.
Here's another nod for John Erskine. He was exactly what the Buffalo Sabres needed for dealing with Milan Lucic. Going back a few decades, the Sabres had d-men who could/would have handily dealt with someone like Lucic: Jim Schoenfeld and Jerry Korab.
Sheppy
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SotasicA
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He is not lesser known though. Stan Jonathan is a legend of the game.
