R.I.P. The pure NHL fighter

Star Tribune ^ | November 27, 2005 | Michael Russo

[wallcrawlr]

In the past, he sat on the bench simply as a means of intimidation. Once or twice a game, a coach tapped him on the shoulder, he hopped the boards with a snarl and hunted for heads.

But these days, the pure heavyweight -- that one-dimensional, slow-footed goon who plays two or three minutes a night -- isn't just endangered.

He's going the way of the dinosaur.

The New NHL is sending the pure heavyweight into extinction.

Krzysztof Oliwa was dumped by New Jersey. Andrei Nazarov never got a chance with the Wild. Ken Belanger retired from the Los Angeles Kings. Peter Worrell, who led the NHL with 354 penalty minutes in 2001-02, is playing in the East Coast Hockey League.

Feared Edmonton brawler Georges Laraque is convinced his role is a thing of the past: "If you're going to fight now, it better be memorable," he said.

Scan rosters, and there's no longer a spot designated for the resident goon.

[infidel29]

hey guys.

[infidel29]

The Penguins employ Andre Roy and Ryan Vandenbusche, they've used them on a few occasions, but they aren't hardly earning their pay.

[airborne]

Hockey ping!

[airborne]

As bad a start as the Pens got at the beginning of the season, fighting just isn't isn't part of the game plan right now.

Looks like 'Sid the Kid' is starting to come around, though.

[zip]

There was a reason for them. The team had to protect their "finesse" players.

[MetalHeadConservative35]

thanks gary bettman for ruining the one thing that set our sport different from the rest!

fighting has been been and should always be part of the game, zero tolerence is for liberal wussys who think they should drop gloves to negotiate,

and if you don't believe it, listen to coaches corner with mr don cherry every saturday night,

[rahbert]

[discostu]

The instigator rule has killed the enforcer, no one can afford to be the only guy to drop the gloves anymore and cheap shot artists NEVER drop the gloves. Subsequently we see more dirty stick work because they can get away with it. The real goons are the stick guys not the fighters, get rid of the instigator rule and the enforcer will come back and the stick work will only involve the puck and no longer somebody else's ribs.

[My Favorite Headache]

I have a dvd of Domi's best hits and fights...total scrapper.

[My Favorite Headache]

"Hey Reg...I want that hundred dollars..." "I'm not gonna do it....I'm not gonna goon it up for ya" "I'm trying to listen to the f-ing song!"

[Peace will be here soon]

"Scan rosters, and there's no longer a spot designated for the resident goon."

Bench space is at a premium. You have to spend your money wisely.

Plus, players are alot bigger and stronger than in years past. Not too many stickly figured Wayne Gretzky`s on the ice that need protecting in todays game.

The toothpick-boned players that are still playing have learned how to avoid trouble.

[TheyConvictedOglethorpe]

Dickie Dunn wrote this, it's gotta be true!

[Physicist]

If they can't find a spot for a goon on the Broad Street Bullies, there shouldn't be a spot for the Flyers in the NHL.

[SamAdams76]

I might be dating myself but I remember players like Stan Jonathon and John Wensink who used to play for the Bruins. When those guys got on the ice, everybody at the Boston Garden rose to their feet because you knew there was going to be some brawling in short order. It was fun watching hockey in those days. Even "gentlemen" players like John Bucyck and Jean Ratelle would take off the gloves from time to time. Most of the players didn't wear helmets and even some of the goalies didn't wear masks. And after the game, they'd go bar-hopping until about 3 in the morning. One night, John McKenzie got thrown in the drunk tank and he used his one phone call to order take-out chinese food for the entire jail.

It's just not like that anymore.

[aumrl]

Domi - a fighter? DID YOU EVER SEE HIM FIGHT IN PHILLY? he even runs from the fans there! ps ; who's that donald brasseur guy??

[GeorgeW23225]

You mean Sid the "diver"??? :-)

[GeorgeW23225]

You mean there is actually a dvd of this nut case??

My favorite fight that he had in Philly was when he took off just one of his gloves and threw it at a Flyer. Then Domi ran like a little girl.

Is that "fight" on his dvd?? I doubt it!!

[GeorgeW23225]

He looks like the "missing link" to me....

[Nexus6]

Bettman has single-handedly killed the NHL. I was a die-hard fan until this year. The NHL will not be getting my business again until this league returns to old-time rules. Physical defensive play is all but gone. The shootout is a complete farce. Fighting is down. A point is given to a team with an OT LOSS??!! But hey!..we've got a whopping 1-2 goals per game more on average!

They may have won some casual fans with their new "product", but I believe they've lost a lot of the core fan base. Hopefully, the league goes bankrupt, maybe then someone will realize it's time for Bettman to get the boot.