GoonBlog.com

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks

Hockey fight blog with humorous, blow-by-blow commentary on goons, enforcers and donnybrooks.

Chris

Hey Collins, deal Stevens in for Bridge


in Chris

New Jersey Devils mainstay, Scott Stevens called it a career the other day. Stevens is a warrior. The 41 year old blueliner has got to be one of the most feared body checker’s ever to play the game. Just ask Eric Lindros abut the ringing in his ears. Scotty, goonblog would like to say thanks for a great career, you will be missed.

Bruins tickets go on sale Saturday, and I am fully blowing off a wedding to be first in line for opening night. I was thinking of going to camp sometime next week in hopes of seeing the Orr brothers have a go. Opening night is around the corner, and I can’t wait. Not much else going on. My back has been junk, so I apologize for the lack of postings. As we get closer to the season starting, I will have more. Until then, talk amongst yourselves. Topic: Why are guys that have been in the NHL reluctant to drop em in the AHL?

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Collins retires


in Chris

I hope everyone had a lovely Labor Day. I blew my back out cutting the grass on Saturday, so I haven’t done too much. I did see a bit of exciting news the other day though. Long time NHL Linesman Kevin Collins has called it a career after 20 some odd years, and countless fights stopped.

For those of you not familiar with Kevin Collins, he is notorious for getting between two guys before fists can ever be thrown. If I were a Linesman, I would take a back seat until the boys tired themselves out, and then jump in. Not old KC. This guy loved jumping in before the boys can ever settle their differences. I find it truly amazing he never seriously hurt himself with his brazen ways. Maybe this is a sign that fighting will be way down? With no fights to stop unnecessarliy, what would Kevin have to do?

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LNAH Brawl


in Chris

A buddy of mine sent me this clip.  This is a pretty crazy brawl. Watch for the sucker punch at around the 1:30 mark of the video. I wish the goalies had gone. I think this is from the LNAH playoffs from last season. Gladiators winner Dean Mayrand is involved, but to be honest, I have no idea who he is in this brawl. I am amazed these benches didn’t empty. Anyone have any info on this?

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Tales From The AHL


in AHL, Chris

I want to tell you a story I was thinking about the other day. It comes from a friend of mine, and I make him tell it often. I think Marine Drill Instructors, and hockey players are the funniest people on Earth. I think this story is hilarious, you be the judge.

A couple of seasons back, The Lowell Lockmonsters had Dave MacIssac on their roster. I have never personally seen MacIssac fight, but I heard he was pretty good in his day. Well one evening, the Albany River Rats are in town, and don’t you know, MacIssac, and Rob Skrlac of Albany get into it. By the way, Skrlac will heretofore be known as "Pumpkin Head". That boy has a huuuuuge cranium. Anyhow, the boys get into a bit of a dust up, and apparently Pumpkin Head didn’t like the outcome, so on the way to the box they have this exchange.

Pumpkin Head: (yelling at the top of his lungs) DAVEY BOY, WE GONNA GO AGAIN!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!

MacIssac: (Shaking his head, and grinning, totally deadpan) Whatever you say Rob.

That story KILLS me every time. Maybe it is one you had to be there for, or maybe it’s funny to you, but it slays me. I can’t wait for the season to get under way. No athlete in the world can trash talk or taunt as well as hockey players. I gotta go again! WOOOOOOO!!!!!

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Hockey Gladiators


in Chris

The Battle of the Hockey Gladiators was held over the weekend. For full results, click here. I have not written anything on this because I have been collecting thoughts, but like Deep throat, it is time for the silence to break.

When this tourney was first announced, I thought it would be a great idea. Who wouldn’t want to see the top enforcers in the world battle it out for supremacy? I was thinking I’d head to Minnesota and see the event first hand. Well, over the ensuing months, this project had more problems than you could shake a stick at. They lost buildings, fighters, and along the way the lost my interest as well. From what I understand, one of the reasons the organizers were losing building permits, is because local officials didn’t want a bunch of drunks watching guys slug it out, and then trying to slug it out themselves. A legitimate concern, but what is the difference between a boxing match, or a kickboxing event? Why more concern over hockey fights? Promoters said, "Nah, you got nothing to worry about, we’ll be well behaved." I had hoped they were right, and they didn’t give people that are against hockey fights, any ammunition to throw at us goon loving bunch.

Mayrand at Hockey Enforcers

From what I understand, about 2,000 people showed for the event in an arena that holds about 6,000. Link Gaetz, the favorite to win it all, was handed his lunch in the first round. After the event was over, apparently fights broke out all over the arena. The web cast didn’t work properly either, as it kept freezing up. The combatants were required to wear gloves, and helmets had to stay on. Doesn’t sound like much of a "hockey" fight to me.

It sounds to me like this event, from start to finish, was a joke. I love a good hockey fight as much as the next guy, but to me, a fight is when two guys square off, drop their gloves, and have at it. It isn’t two guys in a controlled area of ice, wearing gloves, slugging it out for two minutes. That is a street fight on ice, and if I wanted to watch that, I’d go rent an UFC video. I am not a prude when it comes to violence in hockey, it is the violence and speed that attracts me to it, I just don’t want an event like this to come back and haunt the game of hockey. I don’t want some yahoo to point to an "event" like the Gladiators, with its poor on ice product, and bad behavior in the stands, as a reason for fighting to be banned forever. Fighting is already dying off, and with the new CBA in the NHL, I feel it will all but be eliminated very soon. There may be nothing us fight fans can do or say about it, but let’s not let the people that drive fights from our beloved game point to the Gladiators as the reason why. 

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Enforcersaurus?


in Chris, Goons

After a very rough Friday night, I read a very interesting article on ESPN.com written by Scott Burnside. I think Mr. Burnside makes a few good points regarding enforcers’ roles in the new NHL. It has been my fear that with the new CBA, roster spots are going to be a lot more valuable then they once were, and teams are going to have to think long and hard about how to fill them. Do you want to spend the 450K on a Kip Brennan in Anaheim, who really only brings one thing to the table, or do you spend that cash on a guy that can play a little bit, but can also defend himself?

I love hockey. I love a good hockey fight. In my opinion carrying a guy that can fight is as important as carrying a guy that can score. Even if they never see the ice, or get a couple of shifts a game, I think it keeps the opposition honest. I have seen first hand what the lack of an enforcer can mean to a team. Lowell hasn’t had a tough guy willing to fight in several years. Opposing teams know when they come into the Tsongas; they get a night off from fighting, and a green light to start running around. It seems in the new NHL, GM’s are counting on the game being faster, and wide open. I think rosters are going to be filled with more skilled players, and the resident "tough guy" will be a guy that can skate, but also can defend himself if need be. Will this give opposing teams the green light to start taking liberties with other guys?

Near the end of the ESPN article, Burnside cites the Lightning as having won the Cup, with no real enforcer to speak of. Interestingly, Tampa Bay signed 6’7" Monster Mitch Fritz in the off season. Here we have the very definition of a tough guy. A guy that brings one thing to the table, and only one: Fighting. There is no way Fritz can play at the NHL level. The man can not skate. So why sign him? I wonder if the true tough guys in hockey today will be kept on ice, no pun intended, in the AHL, and get the call if they are expecting a real grudge match type victory. Is this the beginning of enforcers as a Carnival Side show?

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PJ Stock – Ass Kicker


in Chris, Goons, PJ Stock

Rough weekend boys. Friday I went to dinner and drank too much, Saturday me and MOL went to the Peelers, and drank too much. Sunday was the Crue at Verizon. I tried to drink too much, but the brew was shut off right as soon as the show started. Makes sense with Motley Crue I guess. The Crue was a great show by the way. I was standing in the middle of the Blue Line closest to the entrance of the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. Great show. Being in the building really made me look forward to the upcoming season.

PJ Stock fights Stephen Peat

I heard a rumor that PJ Stock had to call it quits due to vision problems. It’s strange, because at the Crue, I was looking around scouting out some seats that might be good for hockey, when I thought to myself, "Hey Self, Wouldn’t Stocker look good in a Lockmonster Uniform?" I answered, "Yes."  Point being, when PJ Stock was in Boston, he was a total fan favorite, a guy that was always willing to go with anyone. He had two great fights with Stephen Peat, a dandy with Reed Low, and a couple of Donnybrooks with Eric Boulton. He may not have won them all, but he never backed down from anyone. I think the way the Bruins treated him was pretty crappy. They signed him to a two year deal, then sent him to Providence, and from there, loaned him to Philadelphia. I always enjoyed PJ’s play, and he will be missed.

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The Gillies Brothers


in Chris, Trevor Gillies

I wonder if Trevor and Nathan Gillies are going to have to fight each other in camp? I saw Nathan in Danbury last year when he was with Elmira. He’s not a bad hockey player at all. I think he has more hockey skill than Trevor does, or ever will for that matter, but you have to give the nod to Trevor in the fisticuffs department. I do know that last season when Bridgeport gave Nathan a shot at the end of the season he had a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in his first game. He sure seems willing to prove himself at the next level. Good for Nathan, I hope he makes the team.

Busy weekend on tap. Nothing tonight, but I was thinking of taking in some Ballet Saturday, Canadian Style of course, then Motley Crue on Sunday night! I saw those guys in March in Boston, and it was a great show. I am looking forward to some brew, and the Crue! Other than that, I’ll be in and out here, so stay tuned. Have a good weekend everyone!

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New Look eh?


in Chris, GoonSquad

Welcome to the new look Goonblog! Like the NHL, and the all new Charlestown Chiefs, we had a little overhaul. We went to the dressing room for repairs, and  I am really pleased with the new design. I hope you guys all dig it too. While the look has changed, the content hasn’t. Check back often for news, notes, and my musings about hockey, and hockey enforcers. Please feel free to leave any comments on the new design, and stay tuned for more changes soon. I just heard that Minnesota dropped me. Reg says he saw it in the Hockey News, and he’ll save it for me. In the meantime, poke around, and enjoy.

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Carolina Hurricanes/Lowell Lockmonsters


in AHL, Chris, Transactions

First off, I am back from Maine, and I have to say, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. There was boating, a few beers, and polite conversation. Plus the Sox game on a 103" screen in HD didn’t exactly suck either. Secondly, I had all weekend to think about Carolina re-signing Gordie Dwyer, Mike Zigomanis, and Colin Forbes to two way deals. Terms of the deal have all three making 450K in the Show, and 75K on the farm. How hard are these guys going to be trying to make the Hurricanes’ roster next month? My guess is:very. I was reminded of a conversation I had with Gordie at the end of last season about why he wasn’t fighting much in the A, see the recap here.

By my math there is a 325 thousand dollar delta between Gordie’s NHL, and AHL salary. That would lead me to believe that when camp opens, he and Jesse Boulerice will be fighting, literally, and figuratively, to be the guy that stays in Carolina. Does the line up have room for both guys? Perhaps. But should Dwyer be sent to Lowell, I would suggest he fight any and all comers to get himself back to the show.

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