Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,146
Inspired by another thread. It got me thinking, of all the times we see the Kovalev's and Ribeiro's and Kozlov's of the world acting like they got shot out of a cannon why not do the opposite. Let's talk about moments where you just shook your head in disbelief at a player's courage. We'll keep it to on-ice moments since we were all impressed with Mario, Koivu etc. and their cancer recovery.
Steve Yzerman 2004 playoffs - The guy gets a deflected slap shot in the eye and the only reason he goes down is because his knees buckled on him. He tries to get up and then slumps back down. He wanted to get to the bench. This is a guy who no one questions his heart and wouldn't blame him for staying down.
Brendan Shanahan 1995 - I don't know if we will ever see this again. Shanahan has a broken ankle and he hops to the bench and climbs over it. He is writhing in pain. This is another case where no one would care if he didn't get up.
Bob Baun 1964 - This is a story where the legend still hasn't surpassed the truth. Imagine scoring an overtime goal in the Cup final (arguably the most important goal in Leafs history) with a broken ankle. His foot was frozen, but still that takes a lot of heart.
Bobby Clarke early 1980s - Can't say I've seen this before either. I know it was the early 1980s because Bourque was on the ice as a Bruin. He didn't take the shot but another Bruin did. It was a deflected shot that struck Clarke right in the head. He didn't go down, he barely flinched. He has no helmet and there is blood streaming down his face. He actually was getting ready for the faceoff. I myself say a lot of nasty things about Clarke the cheapshot artist but for this one time I have to give him credit.
Rick Tocchet 1992 - He gets a broken jaw and comes back in the game and scores a goal (or two?). That's heart. I am not sure if this was in the Cup final or not.
Paul Kariya 2003 - In general he has a "cream puff" reputation but taking the hit he took from Stevens and then getting right back up after he "came" to and scoring a lovely over the shoulder slap shot goal is pure poetry.
Steve Yzerman 2004 playoffs - The guy gets a deflected slap shot in the eye and the only reason he goes down is because his knees buckled on him. He tries to get up and then slumps back down. He wanted to get to the bench. This is a guy who no one questions his heart and wouldn't blame him for staying down.
Brendan Shanahan 1995 - I don't know if we will ever see this again. Shanahan has a broken ankle and he hops to the bench and climbs over it. He is writhing in pain. This is another case where no one would care if he didn't get up.
Bob Baun 1964 - This is a story where the legend still hasn't surpassed the truth. Imagine scoring an overtime goal in the Cup final (arguably the most important goal in Leafs history) with a broken ankle. His foot was frozen, but still that takes a lot of heart.
Bobby Clarke early 1980s - Can't say I've seen this before either. I know it was the early 1980s because Bourque was on the ice as a Bruin. He didn't take the shot but another Bruin did. It was a deflected shot that struck Clarke right in the head. He didn't go down, he barely flinched. He has no helmet and there is blood streaming down his face. He actually was getting ready for the faceoff. I myself say a lot of nasty things about Clarke the cheapshot artist but for this one time I have to give him credit.
Rick Tocchet 1992 - He gets a broken jaw and comes back in the game and scores a goal (or two?). That's heart. I am not sure if this was in the Cup final or not.
Paul Kariya 2003 - In general he has a "cream puff" reputation but taking the hit he took from Stevens and then getting right back up after he "came" to and scoring a lovely over the shoulder slap shot goal is pure poetry.