Best Hockey Fight Of All Time
If you're a hockey fan, you know that fighting is as much a part of the game as scoring goals and making saves. While the NHL has cracked down on fighting in recent years, there have still been plenty of memorable bouts that have taken place on the ice. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best hockey fights of all time.
The Battle of Alberta
One of the most intense rivalries in hockey is the Battle of Alberta between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. In a game on February 1, 1984, the two teams engaged in a massive brawl that saw both benches empty and 11 players ejected from the game. The fight started when Oilers enforcer Dave Semenko went after Flames tough guy Tim Hunter. From there, chaos ensued, and it took several minutes for the referees to restore order.
The St. Patrick's Day Massacre
In a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Nordiques on March 17, 1984 (St. Patrick's Day), the two teams set a record for most penalty minutes in a single game with 250. The game was a physical affair from the start, but things really got out of hand when Quebec's Dale Hunter took a cheap shot at Montreal's Guy Carbonneau. Carbonneau's teammate Chris Nilan immediately went after Hunter, and soon players from both teams were throwing punches. The brawl lasted several minutes and saw all 10 skaters on the ice at the time ejected from the game.
The Bruins-Canucks Stanley Cup Final
The 2011 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks was one of the most physical series in recent memory. In Game 3 of the series, Vancouver's Aaron Rome delivered a brutal hit to Bruins forward Nathan Horton, knocking him out of the series with a concussion. In Game 4, the Bruins took their revenge by dominating the Canucks on the scoreboard and engaging in several fights throughout the game. The most memorable fight of the night saw Bruins goalie Tim Thomas go after Vancouver's Roberto Luongo, sparking a massive scrum that lasted several minutes.
The Battle of Ontario
The Battle of Ontario between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators has produced some memorable fights over the years. In a game on March 14, 2004, the two teams engaged in a brawl that saw both benches empty and 20 players ejected from the game. The fight started when Ottawa's Brian McGrattan went after Toronto's Wade Belak, and soon players from both teams were throwing punches. The brawl lasted several minutes and saw several players on both teams bloodied and bruised.
The Flyers-Senators Brawl
In a game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2004, the two teams engaged in a massive brawl that saw both benches empty and 20 players ejected from the game. The fight started when Ottawa's Chris Neil delivered a hard hit on Philadelphia's Jeremy Roenick, and from there things quickly escalated. Flyers goalie Robert Esche even got involved in the fight, going after Senators forward Martin Havlat. The brawl lasted several minutes and saw several players on both teams exchanging blows.
Conclusion
While fighting is no longer as prevalent in the NHL as it once was, these memorable brawls serve as a reminder of the intensity and physicality that makes hockey such an exciting sport to watch. From the Battle of Alberta to the Flyers-Senators brawl, these fights will go down in history as some of the most epic moments in NHL history.
