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The NHL's Greatest Goons

I'm thinking of putting together a RC set of the NHL's greatest goons, and I wanted some help from you guys on who you think the greatest goons are. I don't know enough about hockey pre-1980 to be able to name any from that time period, and even some of my pre-1990 picks may be shaky.

Here's what I have so far.

Dale Hunter
Bob Probert
Joe Kocur
Stu Grimson
Troy Crowder
Marty McSorley
Shane Churla

Please, please, please add to the list. I'd really like to have the biggest, baddest PSA set of goon RC's on the planet. Thanks for your help!

Comments

  • Don't forget Tie Domi

    Wick

    Enjoy collecting vintage baseball cards, memorabilia and autos
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  • Hands down, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz
  • No goon set would be complete without the rookie card of the all-time penalty minute leader Dave "Tiger" Williams. You should also include Dave Schultz in that set, as well as the late John Kordic.
  • theczartheczar Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
    not sure if these guys ever made it out of charleston, but these three brothers were some of the toughest i ever saw...

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    The Hansons
  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭✭
    Sean Avery is the NHL's reigning goon squad leader.
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • RedHeart54RedHeart54 Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭
    John Wensink.
  • KnucklesKnuckles Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭
    Don't forget Gretzky's bodyguard Dave Semenko.

    Donald Brashear

    Georges Laraque is by far the #1 fighter in the league today.

    Lou Fontinato?



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  • TheThrill22TheThrill22 Posts: 976 ✭✭✭
    Daniel Shank, Jim Cummins, Keith Magnuson, Bugsy Watson
  • KnucklesKnuckles Posts: 2,512 ✭✭✭
    Check out this site.. they even have some baseball fight clips at the bottom. link
    image
  • phreakydancinphreakydancin Posts: 1,691 ✭✭


    << <i>No goon set would be complete without the rookie card of the all-time penalty minute leader Dave "Tiger" Williams. >>

    Tiger holds the record for career PIM's, and holds the distinction of being the only player ever to score 35 goals and record 300 PIM's in a single season. Still one of the most popular players in Canucks history. Who could forget him riding his stick like a chopper when he scored? image
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    Jack Carlson

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    Tiger Williams

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    Ogie Oglethorp "Worst Feared Goon In the Federal League"
  • onewho played in my town, Rob Ray...

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  • A few I can think of that haven't been listed.

    Rudy Poeschek (Recently arrested after a fight with a cop)
    Craig Berube
    Chris Nilan
    Mick Vukota
    Tasmanian Devil Terry O'Reilly
    Basil McRae
    Dave Manson
    The other Hunter brother Tim Hunter
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



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    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
  • Two more

    Willi Plett
    Sandy McCarthy
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



    image


    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
  • FuturemanFutureman Posts: 135 ✭✭
    Definitely Tie Domi. I'm glad it only took one extra post for him to get mentioned. I remember seeing him in 1996 against the Devils. Kryztopf Oliwa (another goon) had fought Kris King earlier in the game. Before the face-off, Domi skated to the other side of the circle, said something to Oliwa, and Oliwa switched sides to stand next to Domi. Everyone in the arena knew they were going to start throwing 'em. The ref dropped the puck, and the gloves went off. Domi ended up getting Oliwa to bleed. Oliwa is at least six inches taller than Domi. Domi is amazing.

    Some others I didn't see listed: Peter Worrell, Chris Simon, and Tony Twist.

    Did that hockey fight tournament ever happen? I remember hearing about it, but I don't remember it ever going through.
    The beatings will continue until morale improves.
  • Best KO I ever saw. Stan Jonathan beating up Yvon Lambert. Ultimate B's/Habs moment (for B's fans that is).
    If you have a moment, please check out our E-bay auctions.
    our e-bay auctions

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  • aro13aro13 Posts: 1,961 ✭✭✭
    Hub - Are you certain you are talking about Jonathan - Lambert? I think you meant Jonathan and Pierre Bouchard.

    Just go thru the Flyers roster from the 70's and early 80's and you can do an entire set.

    Great names
    Don Saleski, Schultz as mentioned, Moose Dupont, Box Car Ed Hospador, The legendary Glen Cochrane (417 games, 17 goals, 1556 penalty minutes), Dave Brown, Bob "Hound Dog" Kelly, Paul Holmgren,
  • Aro, you are SO right!

    Sucks getting old.
    If you have a moment, please check out our E-bay auctions.
    our e-bay auctions

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    How could we ever forget Tim "Dr. Hook" McCracken?
  • I loved it when the Kings used to send out Marty McSorley, Jay Miller & Ken Baumgartner out on the same line. You knew something was going to happen then.
  • Bosox1976Bosox1976 Posts: 8,557 ✭✭✭✭✭
    J. Bob "Battleship" Kelly was another tough hombre.
    Mike
    Bosox1976
  • srs1asrs1a Posts: 398
    Aro, you are spot-on with the Hound. Schultz got more penalty minutes, but that was because Kelly never got into the game unless there was a "reason". He's be in a game 15 seconds, max before the golves came off! BTW, I don't remember him being called "Hound dog"...just the hound...but, as a kid growing up in Philadelphia, we loved that guy!
    Dr S. of the Dead Donkeys MC
  • fiveninerfiveniner Posts: 4,111 ✭✭✭
    Tai Domi sort of recent
    Dave Shultz 70s
    Eddie Shack pre 70( My Favorite)
    Howie Young Wings pre 70
    Ted Lindsay pre 60


    I told you all I was an old goat!!!
    Tony(AN ANGEL WATCHES OVER ME)
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭
    You guys just rule. I'm going to put all these guys on my list, and I'll be able to put together a fantastic set. Thanks a million for your help!


  • << <i>Definitely Tie Domi >>

    Hey, Domi could fight, but he could also play! Even hat a hat trick! A couple more, Joey Kocur and my favorite in the Gordie Howe era, Eddie Shack and Lou Fontinato (sp?) who lost his entire nose to #9's left elbow !!! I was very disappointed when Troy Crowder joined the Wings and he and Probert could only fight in practice. Ps dont forget Radky...lets go pretty boy.. what stick ....image
    My focus, 1970 Topps Baseball Raw and Graded, pre 1989 PSA Hockey and 1933 INDIAN GUM ! Yikes!!
  • Dave Manson comes to mind

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    Remember these Chuck Norris Facts

    1. When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down
    2. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, Chuck Norris can actually roundhouse kick you yesterday
    3. There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
  • Forgot about Jay Miller. He was a one bad mofo.Cool thread
  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    We've gotten to page 2 without someone mentioning Terry O'Reilly? The man was given the penalty box from the old Boston Garden for crying out loud...
    Who is Rober Maris?
  • OnlypsahockeyOnlypsahockey Posts: 1,479 ✭✭
    Jay & Taz were both mentioned earlier as was John Wensink who in my opinion was the toughest ever.

    I've been religiously watching hockey since 1969 and I'd have to say in the late 70's when the Bruin's, Flyers, Islanders and most other teams were loaded with tough guys, Mr. Wensink was the baddest of them all.

    I'll never forget one game after beating the crap out of some poor bastige, he skated up to the North Stars bench and challenged the entire team. Not one came over the boards. He laughed at them all and skated to the dressing room.

    I had the pleasure of picking him up at Logan when he flew in for an autograph show about 12 years ago. The guys fists are gigantic. I remember thinking it would be like getting hit with a sledgehammer.

    Also one of the nicest guys you'd want to meet.

    JMO, Bob C.
    57 Topps (83%) 7.61
    61 Topps (100%) 7.96
    62 Parkhurst (100%) 8.70
    63 Topps (100%) 7.96
    63 York WB's (50%) 8.52
    68 Topps (39%) 8.54
    69 Topps (3%) 9.00
    69 OPC (83%) 8.21
    71 Topps (100%) 9.21 #1 A.T.F.
    72 Topps (100%) 9.39
    73 Topps (13%) 9.35
    74 OPC WHA (95%) 8.57
    75 Topps (50%) 9.23
    77 OPC WHA (86%) 8.62 #1 A.T.F.
    88 Topps (5%) 10.00
  • OnlypsahockeyOnlypsahockey Posts: 1,479 ✭✭
    A few glaring omissions from this list:

    Pat Quinn
    Clark Gillies
    Hank Nowak
    Bryan Watson
    Ted Harris
    Gary Dornhoefer
    Lyndon Byers
    P.J. Stock
    Derek Sanderson

    And best new fighter: Colton Orr

    JMO, Bob C.
    57 Topps (83%) 7.61
    61 Topps (100%) 7.96
    62 Parkhurst (100%) 8.70
    63 Topps (100%) 7.96
    63 York WB's (50%) 8.52
    68 Topps (39%) 8.54
    69 Topps (3%) 9.00
    69 OPC (83%) 8.21
    71 Topps (100%) 9.21 #1 A.T.F.
    72 Topps (100%) 9.39
    73 Topps (13%) 9.35
    74 OPC WHA (95%) 8.57
    75 Topps (50%) 9.23
    77 OPC WHA (86%) 8.62 #1 A.T.F.
    88 Topps (5%) 10.00
  • scooter729scooter729 Posts: 1,730 ✭✭✭
    If we're counting dirtbags, let's not forget Ulf Samuelsson. As dirty as they came, as we sadly found out in Boston with Cam Neely.

    Although it was pretty funny when Ulf referred to Tie Domi as Tie Dummy....
  • I saw Tony Twist was mentioned--can't believe I forgot him...

    Wasn't Tony Twist the guy that took out the ref and got 20 games?
    Next MONTH? So he's saying that if he wins, the best-case scenario is that he'll be paying for it two weeks after the auction ends?

    Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12



    image


    Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)


  • << <i>We've gotten to page 2 without someone mentioning Terry O'Reilly? The man was given the penalty box from the old Boston Garden for crying out loud... >>



    the best hockey fight i've ever seen was in the 70's at msg , o'reilly vs nick futio (spelling ?) right in the face off circle. futio kicked hi a$$. matrix
  • Bob Probert was involved in the best fight i ever saw vs. Link Gaetz (missing link) @ the old Cow Palace

    although Probert vs Domi was a close 2nd @MSG
  • OH i almost forgot....Steve Durbano an absolute nutcase!!!!
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    I grew up with the expansion Oakland/California (Golden) Seals who were so bad they didn't even have a top flight enforcer. Memory is hazy now, but I don't recall any of the Seals even goonish enough to make a top-whatever list.

    When we got the San Jose Sharks, one of the original expansion draftees and who would become the most popular players on the team was a young man name Link Gaetz. He was big, strong, and for a "tough guy" possessed of a little bit of offensive and defensive skills.

    For two seasons we MIGHT have had the best fighter in the league.

    On one of Don Cherry's fight videos you might see the famous Link/Probert battle where the two of them went toe to toe for a good three minutes. No wrestling either, I've never seen so many punches thrown in a hockey fight. After a minute they got into a bit of a clinch, the linesmen went to break it up and both combatants told them no and they went on for another couple of minutes until they were exhausted. Neither man lost his feet, and when it was over, Probie gave Link a not, as if to say "good one, kid".

    Then there was a game against the Oilers where Link clipped a guy (can't remember who it was), maybe it was slightly from behind, who fell to the ice - but the guy took offense and he jumped up off the ice, wheeled around and threw down his gloves...and then noticed it was Link. I can't forget the look on the guy's face as if to say "Oh s**t, what did I just get myself into?" Link gave him an out, he looked at they guy as if to say, "You sure about this?". The guy didn't or couldn't back down and Link obliged and proceeded to pound the guy silly. The guy was happy to escape the scrap in one piece.

    Link liked to drink and unfortunately was involved in a one car accident in which he was thrown through the winshield. He suffered head injuries and they impaired his mobility. Although he tried a comeback with the Sharks as a defenseman he just wasn't the same and his NHL career was over. He bounced around the minors, even reportedly showed up in some bush league in Texas. His behavior got worse both on and off the ice and I believe he was even banned from a couple of leagues for assaulting officials.

    There are a couple of web sites even devoted to tracking Link's career, as it were, but I long since lost the URLs. He seems to have faded away, legend intact.

    No goon collection will be complete without 1990-91 OPC Premier Link Gaetz #33 or 1990 Score #411.
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭


    << <i>If we're counting dirtbags, let's not forget Ulf Samuelsson. As dirty as they came, as we sadly found out in Boston with Cam Neely.

    Although it was pretty funny when Ulf referred to Tie Domi as Tie Dummy.... >>



    Jus
    Let me clarify: I'm not looking for cheap shot artists like Ulf (was it he that put the hit on Beukeboom?) Just good old fashioned drop-your-gloves goons.
  • 2dueces2dueces Posts: 6,547 ✭✭✭✭✭
    King Kong Korab (spelling) of the Sabres
    W.C.Fields
    "I spent 50% of my money on alcohol, women, and gambling. The other half I wasted.
  • RedHeart54RedHeart54 Posts: 2,279 ✭✭✭


    << <i>He bounced around the minors, even reportedly showed up in some bush league in Texas. >>



    He played a few games for the San Antonio Iguanas of the Central Hockey League about 10 years ago. He was pretty sad by then.







    << <i>I'll never forget one game after beating the crap out of some poor bastige, he skated up to the North Stars bench and challenged the entire team. Not one came over the boards. He laughed at them all and skated to the dressing room. >>



    I remember that from one of the earlier Don Cherry "Rock 'em Sock 'em" tapes. By the way, mentioning that Wensink was a really nice guy only confirms what I've heard (and experienced) over the years: the toughest guys on the ice are the nicest off. Years ago on a trip to Winnipeg my family went to Hy's Steak Loft and who should be eating there but 13 members of the Montreal Canadiens who were playing the Jets the next day. Chris Nilan, seeing me across the room but knowing I was a little shy about approaching them, waved for me to come over to meet them and get their autographs. A true "Canadian moment".
  • Moosedog...(Probert vs Gaetz)

    that would be on Don Cherry's Rock'em Sock'em Vol.#4



  • You may find a few more on this list of the top 50 all time
    in penalty minutes.

    While he's no goon, I found it amazing that Brendan Shanahan was
    ranked 27th all time in penalty minutes and 15th in goals.
    No mean feat, as it's pretty hard to score from the box.





    Top 50
    Collecting PSA Vintage Hockey
  • BoopottsBoopotts Posts: 6,784 ✭✭
    Given the fantastic responses to this thread I can't BELIEVE I'm the only one to considier putting together a 'Greatest Goon' set. It should be cheap, and fun, and span a lot of different issues and decades (which, in turn, should help me learn more about certain hockey issues that I'm not particularly familiar with-- in particular the mid to late '70's sets). I'm really looking forward to putting this together.


    Thanks again to everyone for all their help.
  • JrMacdaddyJrMacdaddy Posts: 506 ✭✭


    << <i>Jack Carlson >>



    I don't think that is Jack Carlson. Carlson wore #21. That picture looks like Steady Freddie Barret.
  • JrMacdaddyJrMacdaddy Posts: 506 ✭✭


    << <i>I'll never forget one game after beating the crap out of some poor bastige, he skated up to the North Stars bench and challenged the entire team. Not one came over the boards. He laughed at them all and skated to the dressing room. >>



    Bob, you're right about that. The Stars of the 70's were a bunch of pansies. That game was the ignitor for the 1981 Bruins/North Stars 406 PIM game. Geln Sonmor worked the Stars into a frenzy for that game. 7 seconds in an Bobby Smith and Steve Kaspar fought (more like a lot of wrestling). The Bruins demolished the North Stars. The met later on that year in the playoffs and the North Stars won their first two games they had ever won in Boston Garden and they went on to the Finals that year.
  • Brian48Brian48 Posts: 2,624 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Hands down, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz >>

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