11/21/24
April 01, 2004
Al Secord is interviewed on his career as a hockey pugilist. Whether you like the rougher parts of the game or not, his comments show the human side of the enforcer's role and bring to light some of the weird set of rules that hockey fighters live by.
A good read for non-hockey fans who wonder about the people who are involved int the uglier parts of the sport.
posted by Samsonov14 to hockey at 12:52 AM - 8 comments
speaking of cheap-shot artistry...anyone get a chance to hear Brett Hull on HNIC last weekend? He specifically referenced Maltby, a notable pest and not an enforcer, as a stand up teammate and not a cheap shot artist. Anyone see the footage of Maltby driving some poor Bluejacket's ribs into the open bench door?
posted by garfield at 08:08 AM on April 01, 2004
I saw both of those events, but it's tough to knock Hull for not calling out a teammate. He was asked about him directly (he didn't bring up Maltby) and he responded in the only way he really could. The thing I look for from a pest is that they stick up for their own actions, not relying on others to pay the price (fight or whatever) for their dirty work. If a pest takes a seat and sends an enforcer out there to go at it, I lose respect for the pest and his position on the team is meaningless. If he's willing to stand toe-to-toe, I think he's an valuable asset to a club.
posted by 86 at 08:51 AM on April 01, 2004
Eh. "Then I fought this guy, then I fought that guy, then that guy said "let's go" but didn't fight, then this guy knocked me out." Not incredibly enlightening. Then again, I am a hockey fan.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 08:51 AM on April 01, 2004
I thought it was a good and fun read. Thanks Sammy.
posted by vito90 at 09:40 AM on April 01, 2004
It must be odd seeing two guys wanting to kill each other on the rink and later on the same night having a beer together and laughing and exchanging stories. Ahhh, how I love hockey!
posted by jmd82 at 10:48 AM on April 01, 2004
It must be odd seeing two guys wanting to kill each other on the rink and later on the same night having a beer together and laughing and exchanging stories. I played for two seasons in a notably violent indoor soccer league that had much of that same vibe. The establishment had a bar upstairs and it was very common to see two teams that had just had a row sharing pitchers of beer afterwards. Interesting read, thanks samsy.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:08 AM on April 01, 2004
i'm not sure if its the swedish translator or the frenglish, but its a riot to read. nice find, bro.
posted by garfield at 05:05 PM on April 01, 2004
Al was an "enforcer", not a cheap-shot artist. Man, I miss those guys.