Goonblog Top 10

As the end of the decade approaches, there are a million different lists. Dave and I have been heavily debating Top 50 Comedies of the Decade, and we both agree Stepbrothers is getting shafted. Naturally, the Hangover is coming in tops on a lot of lists. I liked it, but not nearly as much as I liked Stepbrothers. If you haven’t seen Stepbrothers, do it. NOW! Wait. Finish reading this, and then do it. We have been here for about half the decade, and have seen some great enforcers come in to the league in that time. It got me to thinking about who my favorite tough guy of the decade is, or was, and since I am really not all that creative, I thought it would be a nice idea to steal. I am having a hard time choosing right now, for a few reasons. One of them, I am not all that creative, and the second being, if they had a list of Top 50 Things I did to my brain to cause damage this decade with booze, and a general lack of common sense, we wouldn’t really scratch the surface of how un smart I am. Here are some things I am struggling with. Dennis Bonvie recently retired as the most penalized player in North American hockey history. He’s been playing hockey for a long time now, and he’s one of my all time favorite tough guys. Would he be considered an enforcer of the decade despite his career has been going on for many decades? Also, does he have enough NHL experience to be considered? Does NHL experience matter? If it does, he’s off the list. That puts a guy like Tie Domi in the mix. He has all NHL experience and retired in the decade, but does that make him the best of most popular enforcer of the decade? I don’t care much for wins and losses in a fight, what I am looking for when thinking of this list is guys I like to watch fight, and when I am flipping through the Center Ice Package I stop and say, “Oh, I’ll watch this game because so and so plays for them.” In the end I decided on a couple of things. 1.If they played in the years 2000-2009, they were eligible. 2.If I followed the career path, they were eligible. 3.If I had personally met and interacted with them off the ice, eligible. This is where a lot of guys score highly. So, without further ado, here is the Goonblog Top 10 Enforcers of the Decade! 10. PJ Stock. Undersized for the role, PJ went into the breach with the determination of a hungry Pit Bull in Michael Vick’s back yard. He had three of the most memorable fights in the “New” Boston Garden, and had a hell of a following in Boston. To this day, PJ Stock Crew shirts can still be seen worn to Bruins games. 9. Shawn Thornton. Number 22 has been a full time NHLer since the 2006-07 season where he won a Stanley Cup in Anaheim. Before that, he made frequent stops in the Paul E. Tsongas Arena with Norfolk, and Portland. Thornton is a guy that clearly enjoys playing a game for a living, and keeps penalty box attendants in stitches with his quick wit. On here as much for his personality as he is his pugilistic ability, Shawn has improved his fighting skills tremendously this season, and has been very impressive in all his fights so far in the 2009-10 season. 8. Ben Eager. On here mostly because I marvel at how equipment mangers around the league are able to make a Gatorade bucket look like a hockey helmet. 7. Darcy Hordichuk. I have been a big fan of him since the old Springfield Falcon days. He also had a couple of donnybrooks with “Mad” Mel Angelstad when they were both in the IHL that are a must see for any fight fan. 6. Ryan Flinn. If there was a more intimidating looking enforcer in the AHL from 2001-2005, I didn’t see him. 5. Gordie Dwyer. Hands down, one of the nicest most personable guys I have ever met. He was hurt a lot of the time he was a member of the Lowell Lockmonsters so I got to speak with him many, many times during games. Not 100% sure he enjoyed the role of enforcer, definitely not at the AHL level, but for a guy that could fight he was the one of the best skaters, and body checkers around. 4. Officer Brendan Walsh. No doubt, the funniest human being on the ice ever. With quotes like, “Half price goatees boys? And Hey Kanko, give me extra cheese on my taco,” it’s hard to disagree. The only thing that ever got the best of Walshie was a puck according to him; he was a thorn in the AHL’s side for 4 seasons. His one game swan song as a Lowell Lockmoster was one of my favorite memories of the old team. 3. Trevor Gillies. Speaking of the old Lockmonsters, Trevor has been a Goonblog favorite since his debut with Lowell in the 1999-2000 season. One of the best guys off the ice as well, he’s always willing to stop and say hi when coming back to the Paul. His fight in which he and Richard Scott bloodied each other was one of the better fights I have seen in that building. 2. Dennis Bonvie. Every time “Bones” was in the building, the calendar was circled and watched with the anticipation of getting a Red Rider BB gun with a compass in the stock. Could rival Walshie as the funniest person on earth, Bonvie was always entertaining and gave an honest effort every night. Some career highlights include the time he was barking like a dog at Craig MacDonald at the redline during warm-ups, and asking the penalty box attendant if Lowell’s Jan Vodrazka had ever fought before after handling he youngster soundly. Classic Bonvie. 1.Colton Orr. Right now, Orrsie is my favorite player in the NHL not wearing #17 for the Boston Bruins. If Boston were smart, they wouldn’t have waived him a couple of years ago, but that is a whole different post. Orr is as tough and honest as they come these days. He truly loves to fight as evidence by the ear to ear grin on his face while being led to his home away from home to feel shame for 5 minutes at a time. Also, the time I introduced myself to him after I had at least 30 beers after a Bruins game he could have been a real jerk to a drunken guy. Instead he humored me for a few minutes as we talked enforcers, and guys he has fought. I am sure I was making no sense, as the look on his face was an indication, but he was a cool guy like most of the pro hockey players out there are. So, there we have it. My Top 10. I’d love to see what the group thinks, and welcome any suggestions on guys I left out. Merry Christmas all. Go easy on the egg nog eh?