Who are some of the dirtiest players you can think of?

[jammer2]

@yave1964 I figured most American posters would not have access to HNIC, thus would not know him. Living in Ohio, it's close enough you could probably scoop the signal up......

I really like Brian, classy guy all round, and a great brodcaster. Do you remeber when Dave Hodge tossed his pencil in the air on live tv, when he found out the main CBC network would not be joining a Flyers vs Habs game that went into OT. They fired him the very next day. Never liked Dave, rubbed me the wrong way.

I like most of the present day HNIC crew, although Kelly Hrudy is wrong more than he is right. Like the night when he claimed Datsuyk was not highly skilled, don't know how he survived saying something so utterly stupid.

[JR Ewing]

I like most of the present day HNIC crew, although Kelly Hrudy is wrong more than he is right. Like the night when he claimed Datsuyk was not highly skilled, don't know how he survived saying something so utterly stupid.

Just my 2 cents, but I think TSN is leaving HNIC so far behind in the dust it's not even funny. Cherry/Williams aside, there's one guy with a brain in his head there: Elliote Friedman.

Just my opinion...

JR

[yave1964]

All you fella's from the north sometimes think that us uninformed Yanks from south of the border don't get into the finer points of the game we all love. Fact is if you love something enough it is worth going the extra mile to learn as much as possible about. It is a little harder here in central Ohio to be sure but my collection rivals most anyone for cool memorabilia going back to the forties. None of it was bought to sell it is mine for me and the wife to enjoy, I know some people get depressed by empty nests I couldn't wait for the kids to move so I could set up my own little shrine in my one daughters old room. One of these times I will shoot a few pics and post them, not saying it is the hockey hall of fame (Which BTW was my wife and I's first stop on our honeymoon) but I have some cool stuff.

[jammer2]

@JR Ewing TSN is taking over for the CBC after this next season. It will be sad to see them go, but getting rid of Bob Cole is a real nice upside of the move. I swear old man Cole just can't keep up with the play. About 25 times last year, I would hear Bob commenting on the play in one end, the puck would go down to the other end, and he would just call the play like nothing happened during the 10-15 seconds he omitted, entire trips to either end of the ice being missed all together.....just brutal.

[JR Ewing]

@JR Ewing TSN is taking over for the CBC after this next season. It will be sad to see them go, but getting rid of Bob Cole is a real nice upside of the move. I swear old man Cole just can't keep up with the play. About 25 times last year, I would hear Bob commenting on the play in one end, the puck would go down to the other end, and he would just call the play like nothing happened during the 10-15 seconds he omitted, entire trips to either end of the ice being missed all together.....just brutal.

Sucks to get old and lose a step, but I guess it happens to all of us. Bob's no different. He used to be kinda spellbinding in the past, but you're right: those days are gone.

JR

[Haliax]

If you ask me this question 100 times, I'd answer Claude Lemieux 100 times (well, Pronger might be thrown in there once or twice). Absolutely can't stand the guy. My opinion is obviously a bit tinted.

Samuelsson, Hextall, Simon, etc are all good choices. But Lemieux is my go to.

[flyercanuck]

@Haliax

Claudes son plays for our junior team and you see him at the rink a lot. Totally different person off the ice. He's actually a really nice guy. Who knew?

[Podein25]

@yave1964

When I was 12 years old I saw Tiger Williams in a restaurant. He looked like a mean SOB, so I convinced a buddy to go over and ask for an autograph. Tiger says to him: "I'm eating. Go eat your fries and leave me alone."

Turns out he was just kidding around and he bought our meals and just winked at us when he was leaving. I'll always remember that.

[jammer2]

I had no idea that the first part of the HNIC double header is shown on the NHL network. That explains a lot, glad Americans can get access to that show. HNIC is more than a show to me, there is a huge emotional attachment to those 7 hrs, I look forward to it all week long. It's usually a Leaf game, but since they got better, the games have been much more competitive, a way better chance you're not forced to watch a dud.

Seems to me, they somehow capture the Canadian passion for the sport, love the shots of fans all pumped up and ready to take in the festivities. I will miss it when it's gone, even though I believe TSN will do a great job, there is something special about CBC's presentation. It's like a huge era will end in my life, if anyone can understand that.

[yave1964]

I had no idea that the first part of the HNIC double header is shown on the NHL network. That explains a lot, glad Americans can get access to that show. HNIC is more than a show to me, there is a huge emotional attachment to those 7 hrs, I look forward to it all week long. It's usually a Leaf game, but since they got better, the games have been much more competitive, a way better chance you're not forced to watch a dud.

Seems to me, they somehow capture the Canadian passion for the sport, love the shots of fans all pumped up and ready to take in the festivities. I will miss it when it's gone, even though I believe TSN will do a great job, there is something special about CBC's presentation. It's like a huge era will end in my life, if anyone can understand that.

Jammer ole buddy ole pal, you are either my favorite on here or if not on a very short list. You have even convinced me to change my mind about a few issues, Brunner and Fasth being eligible for the Calder and all. But on this one I gotta disagree with you.

I have been in love with Hockey since the early seventies, difficult when you live in central Ohio to be sure but not impossible. Even as a kid my allowance went for Hockey cards and the Hockey News magazine and I read every page word for word. The Hockey bible and all.

My love for the game never wavered even while in the military, and by the mid nineties the world had gotten smaller with the internet and the ESPN explosion.

Now everything is at my fingertips. Yes, I am amazed when the wife and I are in Montreal or Toronto that every game from the night before is discussed and studied for hours on television, you have more in depth coverage but most of it trickles down here if you are looking for it, and believe me I do. It helps that I have a patient wife who encourages my passion (Better than hanging out in bars, lol).

What you have is much more access to juniors, I have big ten college which is damn entertaining believe me, but I am sure not in the class you have. But as far as access to everything NHL thanks to the internet the arms race has caught up. I have to work a little harder but its there for those who want it. It is not just Canada's game anymore and hasn't really been for a long time.

[jammer2]

@yave1964 "It is not just Canada's game anymore and hasn't really been for a long time"

I would never suggest such a thing. I do think hockey is more entrenched in our culture, basically interwoven into the very fabric of our society if you will. But, I do think there is tons of passion for the sport in the USA, it does appear to be confined to a few major cities, NY, Philly, Chicago, Boston, and Detroit are all prime examples. Once you get past those, it's sketchy. As far as one ice product, Canadians are not superior anymore, the World Jrs, Olympics and other tourny's results prove this out.

For instance, when I prepare to go to bed at night, I have my choice of 4 different re-cap shows, showing every goal, every hit, every fight. It's a literal smogasborg of everything hockey. I don't believe, even in the major cities I mentioned that those shows would be sustainable. There is not enough interest.....yet. I believe that will change over time. The rise of the USJL and certain NCAA teams show the progress first hand, it's a growing sport.

I have to admit, when we had one 9 Worls Jr's titles in a row, I was pretty cocky, calling the gold "our birthright"...ha ha, pretty embarassed by that now. I don't pretend that Canada has any type of hold on the sport, just that right now, it's more important to us than the average American. That may never change, especially in the Southern States...but the gap is forever closing, and I'm ok with that.

[NRH]

I don't really rate McSorely as dirty as some make him out to be other than the brashear head crack, he didn't take shots at many people who didn't come at Wayne.

"Tiger" has the record in PIM simply because he like Avery after him, were brilliant players outside of their glaring nefarious attitudes on ice. Many enforcers of today's game lack the playing ability and spend more time fighting than playing.

Which Sucks because players like brash and Sestito were brilliant players when given some open ice and the puck.

[blocker]

I do think hockey is more entrenched in our culture

I'm from the states, but my children played most of their hockey in Canada. I've spent lots of hours in rinks on both sides of the border. It's almost always fun, but there's a special feeling present in Canadian arenas. I can't explain it, but it's kind of a family atmosphere.

[JR Ewing]

This is Ken Linseman. "The Rat". He was one of, if not the most hated and obnoxious playes of the 1980s, and did his part to otherwise make the NHL look like a bit of a joke. While playing for the Kingston Canadians, he was convicted of assault after kicking a downed opponent in the head with his skate. During his time in the NHL, he gouged Petr Svoboda in the eye during a fight, speared Iain Duncan in the nuts and then spit on him, and blazed a nightly trail of elbows, knees, low hits, cross checks and high sticks. Master of the retaliatory penalty. If there was a record kept of guys who started crap their teammates had to finish, Linseman would be the runaway leader.

And the thing is: he could play. Terrific speed, strong skater, 807 points in 860 games. Yes, it was the 80s, but that's till extremely solid for that time.

See also: Tikkanen, Esa

JR

Edited July 23, 2013 by JR Ewing

[jammer2]

@JR Ewing Kenny was the first time I ever saw a Flyer draft pick play for an OHL (well, then the OHA) team. His speed stood out immediately. He struck me as a fierce competitor, a non stop buzz saw. Near the end of the 3rd period, when the game was out of reach, he delived a cheap shot elbow, mayhem ensued, he ended up grabbing a Spitfire players hair after his helmet was knocked off, he was showered with everything from popcorn boxes to programs, whatever could be thrown was. Read the summary the next day, he got away with it all, the elbow, hair pulling all went unpunished, he ended up with a 2 min minor for roughing, which is why he got escorted out, less than 2 to play. I remember thinking "wow, that was odd"....little did I know, it was the norm. I even had a Linsemen jersey back in the day, still have it, so small it makes me laugh. Loved the Rat Patrol in their hey day...great line.

[flyercanuck]

@JR Ewing

Come on! If you're going to play "The Rat" card, at least do it in a Flyers uni!

[JR Ewing]

@flyercanuck

LOL!

I just had to go with Linseman's O-Cheap-e hockey card.

JR

[flyercanuck]

O-Pee-Chee were the best cards going. That photo of Linseman was the cover of Hockey News back in the early 80s.

[JR Ewing]

O-Pee-Chee were the best cards going. That photo of Linseman was the cover of Hockey News back in the early 80s.

My favorite part was the diamond hard slab of gum in each pack.

JR

[flyercanuck]

@JR Ewing

That gum is just as fresh 30 years later as the day its made.

[jammer2]

@flyercanuck Man, those gum sticks were brutal, lost their flavour in 4-5 chews!

[J0e Th0rnton]

@flyercanuck Man, those gum sticks were brutal, lost their flavour in 4-5 chews!

kinda like the gum from "Wacky cards"

[jammer2]

@J0e Th0rnton ha ha...I remember those, wow....blast from the past? Anyone remember grape potato chips from Hostess, they were not out long..ha ha...wonder why...brutal!

[Dynamo 47]

A couple immediately come to mind and they are (in no particular order)

Claude Lemieux

Dale Hunter

Ulf Samuelson

Darcy Tucker

And this is my surprise but anyone who has followed the league for a long time would agree - SCOTT STEVENS

People forget that when he first came into the league he was notorious for going low on players along the boards. He would infuriate players with hits to the knees.

Of course as his career progressed his hits went higher. Now as a Lindros fan I am trying to be objective here but my point is that he hit players when they were vulnerable and not expecting it. I know you need to keep your head up and always be ready but he definitely walked a fine line.

Granted this one was on Domi but still cheap

[JR Ewing]

@Dynamo 47

Dale Hunter was another I was going to mention, if for no other reason than the disgusting and dirty hit on Pierre Turgeon twenty years ago.

JR