The "Heart" Trophy

[ShelbyZ]

First name that came to mind for me was Jamie Pushor...

Was part of the committee (IIRC along with Shanahan, McCarty and LaPointe) that took on pugilist duties in Detroit for the first half of 96-97 between the departure of Grimson and eventual return of Kocur.

In fact, it was a wild game against the Hawks where Pusher got absolutely dusted by Enrico Ciccone that convinced Bowman and the Red Wings to sign Kocur. According to Kocur, he visited with Probert when the Hawks were in Detroit earlier that season, and told him to give them Wings hell so they'd consider signing him. Probert went nuts and ended up fighting Shanahan and McCarty in the first period, and IIRC was involved in the dust up that led to Ciccone pounding Pusher and punching the back of his head after he went down.

 

[Hatfield]

Matt Bradley

Dude literally bled for the team ...almost every time he dropped the gloves.

Another Cap: going back a few years, no guy exemplified heart more than Kevin Kaminski.

 

[txpd]

Dude literally bled for the team ...almost every time he dropped the gloves.

Another Cap: going back a few years, no guy exemplified heart more than Kevin Kaminski.

I don't remember much about Kaminski but the later Matt Bradley teams were breaking out. Bradley was the best momentum changer fighter I know and he lost every fight. I am sure that he had something to do with that he lost. I also remember a lot of fans being confused why the Caps would sign a 4th liner like him to a 3 year contract. But again the reason he could have the effect he did was his relationships with the players. Something its hard to get one season and out

 

[Hatfield]

I don't remember much about Kaminski but the later Matt Bradley teams were breaking out. Bradley was the best momentum changer fighter I know and he lost every fight. I am sure that he had something to do with that he lost. I also remember a lot of fans being confused why the Caps would sign a 4th liner like him to a 3 year contract. But again the reason he could have the effect he did was his relationships with the players. Something its hard to get one season and out

In my memory, every fight Kaminski ever had looked something like this:

He was never shy about fighting above his weight class. Also flew around the ice and hit like a cannonball.

No arguments on Bradley, though. Good pick.

 

[Sheppy]

Gregory Campbell for me. Guy got absolutely dusted in 95% of his fights.

 

[Fenian24]

Brent Hughes, Steve Leach. Both tried and gave everything they had every night, Hughes was very much alone on some of those Bruins teams.

Guys like Potvin and Odgers meet the criteria but they were only around to fight, Leach was a good player who could have gotten away without getting maimed by fighting but he chose to stick up for his teammates and fought and lost a lot.

speaking of heart and losing a lot, Dale Hunter won very few fights and was the heart and soul of the nordiques. While his being insanely dirty made him very dislikeable he was a true heart and soul leader who would do anything to win.

 

[Magic Man]

A recent example would be Troy Bodie.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

First name that came to mind for me was Jamie Pushor...

Was part of the committee (IIRC along with Shanahan, McCarty and LaPointe) that took on pugilist duties in Detroit for the first half of 96-97 between the departure of Grimson and eventual return of Kocur.

In fact, it was a wild game against the Hawks where Pusher got absolutely dusted by Enrico Ciccone that convinced Bowman and the Red Wings to sign Kocur. According to Kocur, he visited with Probert when the Hawks were in Detroit earlier that season, and told him to give them Wings hell so they'd consider signing him. Probert went nuts and ended up fighting Shanahan and McCarty in the first period, and IIRC was involved in the dust up that led to Ciccone pounding Pusher and punching the back of his head after he went down.

 

[ShelbyZ]

That was it! Had to go back and find the article: A tale of twists and turns

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

That was it! Had to go back and find the article: A tale of twists and turns

I remember that game and also thought of it immediately upon seeing Pushor's name mentioned in this thread.
You beat me to it.