OK, here's a question for you: Who's the toughest light heavyweight fighter the Komets have had -- Jon Mirasty, Robbie Laird, Andy Bezeau, Dale Baldwin, Con Madigan, Steve Salvucci, Brad MacMillan or Kevin Kaminski? That's off the top of my head, so I'm sure I've missed somebody. If you want to add someone in go ahead. I'm judging light heavyweight by 5-10 and under.
Comments
Mirasty is the toughest out of all them. Not that guys like Fletcher, Kaminski, Bezeau, and MacMillan weren't tough, they really were! But Mirasty could be a top 10 fighter in the NHL. And, If in a different era in hockey, Mirasty could easily be getting more a shot at getting playing time in the NHL. Even in today's game, Mirasty has gotten a pre-season game in 'the show'.
You did leave out Andre Roy, though he just played for 1 year. Guys like Jeff Worlton were tough as well. But from this era, Mirasty takes the cake. But Fletcher is a close second. "Killer" and "Buzzsaw" were very formidable as wekk.
Hockeyfights.com is a good resource for this kind of information.
that's why it was about the LIGHT heavyweights, Patrick.
Jon Mirasty has fought all the toughest guys. Big or small. Meaning, he's fought Steve MacIntyre, whom is 6'6, 250-270. He's also fought Derek Boogaard.
If you're a hardcore hockey fight fan, the topic of weight classes is more subjective. Its more about who you fight, how often, and the quality of your opponent.
A good example: Tie Domi- 5-10, 210. But one of the toughest of all-time. Tie fought the best. Jon Mirasty does the same.
A light heavyweight in the NHL: Jerome Iginla. Milan Lucic.
In the IHL/UHL: Tyler Willis
Light Heavy weight in the NHL ... Sean Avery. Someone, please, I beeseech you ... punch his lights out!!!!
Without a doubt it was Con Madigan. I have seen all the names you put down Blake. Have seen then all in action. The one i would not want to mess with AT ALL---------------Connie.
Completely agree with Tim, out of this group Connie was it. He went out west from here and is still a legend out there after all these years.
Maristy might be on a par with Madigan, but in Madigan's day there were far fewer hockey teams in North America, including only 6 NHL teams for part of his career. This was also at a time, as Mike pointed out in another thread, when almost everyone was tough so to stand out you had to be really tough.
IIRC he did get called up for I think one game and holds the record for being the oldest rookie or call up in the NHL.
He was the Jeremiah Johnson of minor league hockey, rumor has it that there are former players from his era who refuse to talk about him and tremble at the mention of his name. He was bad to the bone period.
I smell a rat....I mean a Coyote.....
I don't buy for a minute the story you were spewing on the other thread.....
Come clean dude.....
Ryan Jorde was the most feared player in Minor Hockey....just ask him.
I will say Mac and Bezeau.
Bezeau had a screw loose....or maybe he was missing some screws....
One thing missed here is dale baldwin was not only tough and led team in penalty minutes but he had 5 straight seasons of 30 plus points. Very difficult to do
Mirasty a light heavyweight???????????
As said he has fought all the top fighters in AHL.
I agree Brian,always liked Dale :)
When will the fans realize that we may need to make a coaching change? David needs to swallow his pride & get a coach that is a hard nose coach that knows how to use physical players & not keep them on the bench for the whole 3rd period.
not a rat Hit Somebody. i simply went to youtube and searched for hockey fights. i found this avery guy. seems like a real jerk and i'm beginning to understand your stance on the issue.
Hit gets it.. The Cy-oat is a pot stirrer.
Andy Bezeau was great. Non-stop entertainment, and a complete madman. And if you look on youtube, you'll see a bunch of his videos. And they all just so happened to have been made by me :-)
Con Madigan was just real tough. A winner for sure but I always liked John Ferguson and he lasted in the NHL. Only one year here but unbelievably tough. I might add he could score and play the game at both ends. That is why he is in the Hall of Fame.
Actually, John Ferguson is not in the hall of fame but should be.
OOP'S
Fergie and Madigan were on the same team. No disrespect to u other bloggers but had u been around to see Con u would not be picking Beazeu.
Con was suspended for the playoffs one year ('71 ? Portland ?) because he punched a ref. These days it probably would be for life but everyone was tougher back then, including officials.
Here's a link to some good stuff on Madigan and Portland. The first article is from "Hockey Digest".
If you go down the page to "The Brawl" you will see where he climbed the chain link fence to get at some fans who were fighting a team mate off the ice, this was before glassed in rinks.
Then "The Tough Guy" where among other things we learn he once played on a broken leg and some other stuff about Connie.
Heck, search the page, there might be more there.
http://www.portlandbuckaroos.com/news_articles.shtml
I know for sure Tim and Dennis will enjoy it. To appreciate just how tough he was I guess you had to be around back then. Hockey was a lot tougher, the players were a lot tougher, and the toughest, like Madigan, were unbelievable compared to players and enforcers today.
Heck, these were the days of no helmets, thin leather gloves, and minimal pads. Even the fans were tougher back then ........ :-)
Steve thanks soooo much for that!!! Really good stuff. Bob Chase could fill a lot of the newer fans about Madigan. Of course not to forget Cons role in the movie Slapshot along with two other former Komets. If i remember correctly Madigan was a former Golden gloves boxing champion?
Tim, I believe you are thinking of Art Stone.
I'll go with Salvucci ;-)
No, I'm not him, just a fan of his when I was a kid.
Laird and Baldy were tough as nails as well. As another poster mentioned, all three of these guys were goal scorers as well.
Ok Blake thanks for that.