As the end of the decade approaches there are a million different "Top…" lists floating around the web. The Ref and I have been heavily debating the Top 50 Comedies of the 00’s and we both agree Stepbrothers is getting royally shafted. Naturally, The Hangover is coming in tops on a lot of lists. It’s also #1 on our list of the Top 50 Overrated Comedies of the decade. If you haven’t seen Stepbrothers, do it. NOW! Wait. Finish reading this, and then sit down with Brennan and Dale.
On a slightly more related note, GoonBlog.com has been around for about half the decade and has seen some great enforcers come in to the league during that time. It got me to thinking about who my choice for favorite tough guy of the last ten years would be. I am having a hard time choosing right now for a few reasons. First, I am not all that creative. The second being, if they had a list of Top 50 Things I did to my brain to cause damage this decade with booze and a general lack of common sense, we wouldn’t really scratch the surface of how un-smart I am. Here are some things I am struggling with in terms of prerequisites.
Dennis Bonvie recently retired as the most penalized player in North American hockey history. He’s been playing hockey for a long time now, and he’s one of my all time favorite tough guys. Would he be considered an enforcer of the decade despite the fact his career spans several? Also, does he have enough NHL experience to be considered? Does NHL experience matter? That puts a guy like Tie Domi in the mix. He has all NHL experience and retired in the decade, but does that make him the best of most popular enforcer of the decade?
I don’t care much for wins and losses in a fight, what I am looking for when thinking of this list is guys I like to watch fight, and when I am flipping through the Center Ice Package I stop and say, Oh, I’ll watch this game because so and so plays for them. In the end I decided on a couple of definites.
1. If they played in the years 2000-2009, they were eligible.
2. If I followed the career path, they were eligible.
3. If I had personally met and interacted with them off the ice, eligible. This is where a lot of guys score highly.
Without further ado, Goonblog’s Top 10 Enforcers of the Decade!
10. PJ Stock. Undersized for the role, PJ went into the breach with the determination of a hungry Pit Bull in Michael Vick’s back yard. He had three of the most memorable fights in the New Boston Garden, and had a hell of a following in Boston. To this day, PJ Stock Crew shirts can still be seen worn to Bruins games.
9. Shawn Thornton. 22 has been a full time NHLer since the 06-07 season where he won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim. Before that, he made frequent stops in the Tsongas Arena with Norfolk, and Portland. Thornton is a guy that clearly enjoys playing a game for a living and keeps penalty box attendants in stitches with his quick wit. On here as much for his personality as he is his pugilistic ability, Shawn has improved his fighting skills tremendously this season.
8. Ben Eager. On here mostly because I marvel at how equipment mangers around the league are consistently able to make a Gatorade bucket look like a hockey helmet. Have you seen the size of that boy’s heeeed?!
7. Darcy Hordichuk. I have been a big fan of him since the old Springfield Falcon days. He also had a couple of donnybrooks with Mad Mel Angelstad when they were both in the IHL that are a must see for any fight fan.
6. Ryan Flinn. If there was a more intimidating looking enforcer in the AHL from 2001-2005, I didn’t see him. But then again, maybe I’ve been blocking them out. Shudder. The resemblance to Jim The Anvil Neidhart is also remarkable.
5. Gordie Dwyer. Hands down, one of the nicest most personable guys I have ever met. He was hurt a lot of the time he was a member of the Lowell Lockmonsters so I got to speak with him many, many times during games. Not 100% sure he enjoyed the role of enforcer, definitely not at the AHL level, but for a guy that could fight he was the one of the best skaters, and body checkers around.
4. Officer Brendan Walsh. No doubt, the funniest human being on the ice ever. With quotes like, Half price goatees boys? And "Hey Kanko, give me extra cheese on my taco, it’s hard to disagree. The only thing that ever got the best of Walshie was a puck according to him; he was a thorn in the AHL’s side for 4 seasons. His one game swan song as a Lowell Lockmoster was one of my favorite memories of the old team.
3. Trevor Gillies. Speaking of the old Lockmonsters, Trevor has been a Goonblog favorite since his debut with Lowell in the 1999-2000 season. One of the best guys off the ice as well, he’s always willing to stop and say hi when coming back to the Paul. His fight in which he and Richard Scott bloodied each other was one of the better fights I have seen in that building.
2. Dennis Bonvie. Every time Bones was in the building, the calendar was circled and watched with the anticipation of getting a Red Rider BB gun with a compass in the stock. Could rival Walshie as the funniest person on earth, Bonvie was always entertaining and gave an honest effort every night. Some career highlights include the time he was barking like a dog at Craig MacDonald at the redline during warm-ups, and asking the penalty box attendant if Lowell’s Jan Vodrazka had ever fought before after handling he youngster soundly. Classic Bonvie.
1.Colton Orr. Right now, Orrsie is my favorite player in the NHL not wearing #17 for the Boston Bruins. If Boston were smart, they wouldn’t have waived him a couple of years ago, but that is a whole different post. Orr is as tough and honest as they come these days. He truly loves to fight as evidence by the ear to ear grin on his face while being led to his home away from home to feel shame for 5 minutes at a time. Also, the time I introduced myself to him after I had at least 30 beers after a Bruins game he could have been a real jerk to a drunken guy. Instead he humored me for a few minutes as we talked enforcers, and guys he has fought. I am sure I was making no sense, as the look on his face was an indication, but he was a cool guy like most of the pro hockey players out there are.
So, there we have it. My Top 10. I’d love to see what the group thinks, and welcome any suggestions on guys I left out. Merry Christmas all. Go easy on the egg nog, eh?
jhenry
HAL GILL # 1
Chris
Your top 10 list has a very new england/mass feel to it.
The Ref
Chris – great article and I really had fun reading it. I know you’re going to miss your goony conversations at the Tsongas. Maybe you can come up to Ottawa this summer and I can introduce you to Carkner in person!
Chris
It does have a New England feel. Read the criteria, and you’ll see why.
The Ref
Chris #2: You’re right. It’s definitely not objective. We leave the stats to our friends over at hockeyfights.com.
Chris
JHenry. You ain’t even right.
MoreCanadian
As a Sens fan I do miss Brian McGrattan and as an overall goon keener I think George Laraque would not have been a bad pick either, although he is focussing more on his off-ice career these days. http://bit.ly/5cRZNZ Great list!
Brandon
You can’t be serious! Colton Orr number 1!?
Sure he is a good fighter but there is NO WAY he is the BEST/MOST FUN to watch over the last 10 years. Not a chance
illukka
3 guys there that are on my list too..
how the hell can you ignore nasty mirasty ?
i agree on orr, PJ and bonvie. great guys all
Chris
MoreCanadian, I was this close to adding McGrattan. Love his work. Happy to see he’s doing well in Calgary.
Brandon, I think there is not a more fun enforcer to watch than Orr. WHo do you prefer?
Chris
Illukka, I have never seen Mirasty in person. He was with Lowell, but played one Pre Season game in Connecticut, and that was it. I have January 10th circled, and highlighted on my calendar as Syracuse will be in Lowell for the first time in a loooooooong time. I am a huge fan of his work though, and anyone on Youtube needs to check out his fights with Jeremy Yablonski, and Trevor Gillies.
The Hammer
I think Jhenry is right on the money, Hal Gil is the biggest POS on the ice, opps wrong top ten
Enforcerposter
I cant believe Eager and Thornton is on the list and Boogaard and McGrattan, who is no doubt a top 3 heavy atm is not.
David Seder
I am a big fan of both the Bruins,and Hockey’s tough guys.The Bruins management has not held enforcers in very high regard,not since Don Cherry left,and Harry Sinden got rid of Grapes’ boys,Butch Secord,John Wensink,and Stan Jonathan.We did have a couple of years with Jay Miller and Lyndon Byers,and then a couple more with Ken Belanger,but overall,the Bruins management has shied away from tough guys.They had Colton Orr in their system and gave him away,same with Steve McIntyre.Shawn Thornton is too good a player to be used as an Enforcer,same with Milan Lucic.The Bruins oughta go out and get themselves a Mirasty or Yablonski type.I’d really love to see Boogaard here,but The Wild wont let him go.
Greg
Great post Chris. Exciting game tonight, gotta say Kovie looked real good in the Garden albeit for the wrong team. After seeing what he can do against a defender like Chara, makes me want the B’s to get him even more.
Chris
Agreed Greg. Let me ask you this. After seeing him last night, would you trade Wheeler, one of the first rounders from TO, and Ferrence to get him in the Black and Gold?
Greg
Yes, I hate Ferrence, every time he jumps the boards I cringe. I think that Wheels and a first rounder are not too much to give up, I would be very happy to see number 21 on another team, once Stuart comes back just leave Boychuk up and I think that team contends for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Chris
David Seder, Great point. Also the way the PJ Stock situation went down was another example of Bruins mis managing enforcers.
Chris
Enforcerposter, Welcome to Goonblog! Read the criteria and you’ll see why those guys aren’t here. If we are making a list of Top 10 Heavies of the decade, McGrattan is on there, and so is the Boogieman. Glad you read the post, and I hope you stuck around to read some more.
mike
dude, ponud for pound it’s rick rypien of the Vancouver Canucks.
Chris
Good call. He had a dandy with Cam Janssen the other night. I am sure you saw it. Very impressive.
Fred
You seem to have alot of Boston / Providence players here so I have to say where is Aaron Downey?
Chris
Good call Fred! I always liked him.
Preston
Georges Laraque anyone? Not to mention he beat the hell out of Colton Orr.
Chris
Preston, Re read the list. Look closely at the criteria.
paper heavier
Thank you from Ballymartin 😉