Best Hockey Brawls Of All Time
Hockey is a sport that is known for its intense physicality, and sometimes that physicality can boil over into fights between players. While fighting is not condoned in hockey, it is a part of the game that has been around for decades. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best hockey brawls of all time.
The Good Old Days
In the early days of hockey, brawls were a regular occurrence. Players were not as protected by the rules as they are now, and fights were often the only way to settle disputes on the ice. One of the most infamous brawls in hockey history occurred in 1979 between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers. The brawl started when Rangers player Ulf Nilsson tripped Bruins player Stan Jonathan, and Bruins player Terry O'Reilly retaliated by attacking Nilsson. The fight escalated quickly, and soon players from both teams were involved in a massive brawl on the ice.
The Battle of Alberta
The Battle of Alberta is a longstanding rivalry between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. The rivalry has produced some of the most intense and memorable moments in hockey history, including multiple brawls. One of the most infamous battles between the two teams occurred in 1984, when both benches cleared and a massive brawl broke out on the ice. The brawl lasted for several minutes and involved players from both teams.
March 26, 1997
On March 26, 1997, the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche faced off in what would become one of the most violent games in hockey history. The game was already tense due to a rivalry between the two teams, but things boiled over when Avalanche player Claude Lemieux hit Red Wings player Kris Draper into the boards. Draper suffered a broken jaw and several other injuries, and his teammates retaliated by attacking Lemieux. The brawl that followed involved most of the players on both teams and lasted for several minutes.
The Bruins and Canadiens Rivalry
The rivalry between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens is one of the most intense and historic rivalries in hockey. The two teams have faced off against each other over one hundred times in the playoffs, and the rivalry has produced some of the most memorable moments in hockey history. One of the most infamous brawls between the two teams occurred in 1988, when both benches cleared and a massive brawl broke out on the ice. The fight involved most of the players on both teams and lasted for several minutes.
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins was a tense and physical series that eventually led to a massive brawl in Game 3. The brawl started when Canucks player Aaron Rome hit Bruins player Nathan Horton with a high hit, knocking Horton out of the game with a concussion. Bruins player Milan Lucic immediately went after Rome, igniting a full-scale brawl between the two teams that involved most of the players on the ice.
Conclusion
While fighting is not condoned in hockey, it is a part of the game that has been around for decades. The best hockey brawls of all time are often remembered for the intense physicality and the emotions that they evoked. Whether it is old rivalries like the Bruins and Canadiens or newer rivalries like the Battle of Alberta, these brawls are a part of hockey history and will continue to be remembered for years to come.
