Dennis Bonvie once asked a penalty box attendant in Lowell if Jan Vodrazka had ever fought before. The two had just had a little dust up, and Vodrazka lead with his head. Thankfully for Jan, it was quick. Bonvie isn’t a huge man, but he’s been in a fight or two. Had it gone on longer, he may have really hurt Vodrazka. Maybe if he had a fight camp like Derek Boogaard’s he might have been able to defend himself a bit.
A lot has been made about the camp. The Hockey News obviously didn’t like it, and most news outlets decry it. We here at Goonblog love it. I have been to several hockey camps. We learned positional play, shooting and passing, but never punching. I have been in a fight or two on the ice. I won some, and lost some. Had I been at the Boogeyman’s camp, I might have fared better. You see, Boogaard isn’t teaching kids how to fight, he’s teaching kids how to fight properly.
Fighting is part of hockey. Ask Todd Fedoruk what happens when a fight goes wrong. He’s a trained professional, and got smoked twice this year. The Boogaard camp is teaching kids how to defend themselves so they don’t get seriously hurt. Ask Derek how eating sandwiches through a straw was because he didn’t know how to defend himself.
I would think with the new rules in the NHL, anyone that might even have remote chances, or wants to play in the NHL should go to this camp. We are seeing a group of players that have to be able to play as well as fight. Let me ask you this, if you are a young rookie and someone like Billy Guerin, a pretty tough customer, comes after you, wouldn’t it be nice to know you have a Boogaard Fight Camp T-Shirt on? Boogeyman, if you are reading this, send me your address, I’ll send you a Goonblog T as a thank you for the camp. Keep up the good work, critics be damned.
I can’t skate for shit but I still want to sign up for the camp
Fighting in the league I’m in will get you kicked out permanantly, but it might come in handy crossing the parking lot after the games.
Let’s go, fuckers !! Part 1….Vodrazka beat Bones in the rematch a few days later down in Providence. While I’d put my $$ on Bonvie most of the time (OK..99.9%), Jan could/can handle himself fairly well. He’s no Andre Payette, but he has big hammers for fists to match his dome !
Part 2…The Boogaard camp is not a new concept, as Doug “The Thug” Smith does something similar here in MA, and if you wanna go north of the border…Serge Roberge does the same thing. I know that with Roberge you spend a week with him and also learn how to do things that are just as important as the on-ice stuff. Taking care of yourself, eating a proper diet, etc. He even teaches the the proper way to breathe during a fight. Fascinating stuff…the science of a hockey fight !! I believe that you actually get college credits in Canada for taking the Roberge class, eh?
Good point Tweener. I think part of the “issue” is that Boogaard is an active NHL player. I got no problem with any of it.
Hey guys long time no talk. I just wanted to inform you that former NHL Goon and all around meat head Billy Tibbetts has been arrested again in Abington MA. It appears the idiot led cops on a 3 town high speed chase. The Be A Bruins winner is to appear in court today on a rash of changes.
Thanks for the update. Million dollar talent. 5 cent head.
I played on a team with him about 4 years ago. He got in a full fist fight on our bench with a teammate and we voted to boot him off the team. The talent was not worth the headaches he caused. That year I also witnessed him beat the living day lights out of a 50 year old man that weighed about 140 lbs for no reason at all. The guy is a total train wreck.
And with his subsequent deportation to Canada and that Country’s refusal to
accept him well that’s just more than most 32 year olds can handle…..
Having said all that we all know that Billy is misunderstood and as usual
this is blown way out of proportion.
It’s just Billy being Billy
I am the Penalty Box Attendant Chris was refering to and Billy Tibbetts is one of the onlly players that ever scared me. He absolutely lost it and went nuts after being assessed a Game Misconduct for starting a Line Brawl at the end of a game in Lowell. The Penalty boxes are pretty small in Lowell and are crowded when 1 player is in there let alone several. There’s no place to go. Aparrently Billy did’nt see the NO FIGHTING SIGN at the Players Entrance to the Tsongas Arena.
Great story Taz. So you have seen the look in the guys eyes and all you need to do is see that to know he just is not right in the head.