Enforcer Olympics – Boston Bruins
This was by far the toughest of the Enforcer Olympics installments to write, literally and figuratively. The B’s storied past made picking only three of the baddest dudes to ever drop-the-gloves truly difficult. It’s also crazy to think that it’s been 42 years since the Bruins were involved in one of the wildest moments in sports history. Personally, I love watching the video of Terry O’Reilly and his teammates climbing over the glass to get after John Kaptain, a Rangers fan who had the cahones to whack Stan Jonathan with a game-program after Gerry Cheevers absolutely robbed Phil Esposito to give the Bruins the W. Luckily, there is no shortage of Bruins fight highlights, so let’s not waste any time giving our medalists the praise and respect they deserve.
Bronze – Jay Miller
Our bronze medalist epitomized the tough-guy persona. Being 6 feet and 210 pounds, with lunch pail-sized hands, and the legendary 80s mustache made Jay Miller one of the most intimidating enforcers to wear the black and gold. While the Massachusetts’ native may have only played four seasons in his home state, tallying 858 penalty minutes and 87 fights in such a short period of time makes you a shoo-in as a medalist in the Enforcer Olympics. Of course, it sucks that we’ll never see the “Killer Miller’ and “Hit em’ Jay” signs again, but if you want to give the Big Man some love you can find him at the Courtyard Restaurant & Pub in Cape Cod. They boast they have the best clam chowder in New England. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. But after watching Miller for years, I’ll keep my opinion to myself…I’m not looking to have any dental work done any time soon.
Jay Miller vs Chris Nilan – December 05, 1985, 1st period – 17:43
What better way to endear yourself to fans and teammates than through a scrap with Chris “Knuckles” Nilan? That’s exactly what Miller did that Thursday night in the Garden. This is one of those scraps that it’s mandatory to have the sound on so you can hear the announcers and fans’ reactions. Miller started the bout strong with some big left hands and, as fight fans know, Nilan was never one to back down. Knuckles answered back with some right hooks and while they grappled Miller landed a few big right jabs. The linesman eventually jumped-in to end a spirited bout, but not before the two heavyweights exchanged a few words. Only they know what were they saying, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion it was an invitation to dance again later because the two gladiators locked up again in the second period. In the end, the black and gold got the last laugh against their rival with a wild 8-6 win.
Jay Miller vs John Kordic – November 12, 1987 – 1st period – 10:01
While the trials and tribulations of John Kordic have been well documented, they shouldn’t take away from the scraps he had with our bronze medalist. Regardless of his off-ice-issues, the respect between these two was undeniable. In fact, John Kordic was quoted as saying “Once, I brought my fist from a way back, hit him right between the eyes, and he didn’t budge. I couldn’t believe he didn’t go down.” This is likely why Miller didn’t budge when Kordic landed some huge left hooks to start the bout. Our bronze medalist never lacked endurance and fired back with some right hands before all hell broke loose. The two gladiators exchanged a flurry of right hands that hurt to watch. The best part? Watching both benches go wild for two absolute warriors. Miller ended the bout with the international gesture of flipping off the Canadiens bench, making his feelings known to all…regardless of what language they spoke. Yes, it may not have been the “classiest” move, but when you’re tossing haymakers against your bitter rival, politeness goes out the door. The Bruins and Canadiens may be one of the best rivalries in hockey history and without Kordic and Miller it wouldn’t be half as good.
Silver – Stan Jonathan
There has been a lot of buzz about Oklahoma University’s wide receiver getting beat down in a bathroom by an MMA-trained fighter half his size. Well, if that man would have known about Stan Jonathan, he would’ve thought twice before discrediting a guy based on his size. Jonathan only stood 5,8,” and 175 lbs, but he mashed some of the biggest, toughest enforcers during the late 70s and 80s. The product of the Six Nations Reserve was truly fearless from a young age and there is no doubt that working with his father in the summer as a ‘high steel’ laborer aided his fearlessness. As someone who is terrified of heights, Jonathan casually said, “I was scared the first couple of times I went up. But soon I learned it wasn’t all that dangerous if you followed safety precautions. But it’s just like hockey: get careless and you can get hurt” proves that some people are just cut from a different cloth. Jonathan played nearly a decade in the NHL and, while he never raised the Stanley Cup, I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll never have to pay for a drink in Boston.
Stan Jonathan vs Pierre Bouchard – May 21, 1978 – 1st period – 6:28
I think it’s safe to say that times have changed when you think that one of the best scraps of all-time happened during the STANLEY CUP FINALS!!! Hell, nowadays guys are worried about getting a hooking call! But there were no rules in the 70s. Absolutely destroying Pierre Bouchard with a flurry of right hands, this is by far one of Jonathan’s most legendary scraps. It has to be denoted that Bouchard’s collapse to-the-ice was devastating, but it ain’t good ol’ hockey without a little blood. There is clearly a running theme between the Canadiens and the Bruins – and rightfully so. These teams didn’t like each other and their enforcers made it clear…plus, there’s nothing better for fight fans. The Canadiens may have had the last laugh with their 6-game series win, but Jonathan will always have the night-night TKO on Bouchard.
Stan Jonathan vs Don Jackson – November 12, 1981 – 3rd period – 8:10
“I’m sorry Don Jackson, OOOO, I am for real.” I have a sneaking suspicion that Don Jackson isn’t an Outkast fan because that song has to be a reminder of when Stan Jonathan gave him an absolute beat-down. Jonathan weighed 40 pounds less than the Oilers D-man, yet was still able to dominate this bout. To add insult to injury, Jonathan’s and Jackson’s scrap gave the former Peterborough Pete the classic Gordie Howe hat-trick. Let’s be honest, the real reason Stan Jonathan is on the podium is because of his willingness to stand-and-trade. Sorry Joe Rogan, there was never a fear-factor for Jonathan, which is why he was able to do the toughest job in sports so well: fighting any opponent on any given night. This night, his job gave him the distinction of sending “The Great One” flying back to Oil-town with an L.
Gold – Terry O’Reilly
Ray Bourque is one of the best Boston defensemen to ever lace ‘em up. O’Reilly’s impact in Beantown was highlighted when the Bruins retired No. 24 banner and Bourque said, “He hangs next to mine, protecting me again.” While the Ontario native remains synonymous with his New York brou-ha-ha, O’Reilly was one of the best to don the black and gold. “Taz” (as Phil Esposito ceremoniously referred to him) is still the Bruins’ penalty minutes leader, dwarfing the Mike Milbury by over 500 minutes. As such, I am damn sure that – being the guy that everyone loved throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s – if these Olympics were a ceremony, all of O’Reilly’s teammates would be in attendance.
Terry O’Reilly vs Dave Schultz – January 25, 1976 – 1st period – 10:51
Helmets? Visors? Name-bar? Nah, the 70s gladiators didn’t need those extras. They just wanted to get after it. That’s why, in hindsight, we were lucky watch two of the meanest and toughest dudes ever drop-the-gloves like it was nothing. In this bout, O’Reilly started strong by rocking the Flyers enforcer with a flurry of huge left hooks and was in total control the whole scrap. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to get rocked with a series of left-hooks, held, jerseyed, and then fed more punches. Well, I guess we’ll have to ask Dave Schultz because that’s exactly what Taz did to him that Sunday night in the Garden. Tell me if I’m wrong, but I’m starting to notice a pattern: whoever gets rocked loses. O’Reilly won::Schultz lost…Bruins 5::Flyers 3.
Terry O’Reilly vs Clark Gillies – April 19, 1980 – 2nd period – 14:08
It wouldn’t be the Enforcer Olympics without a little gold-on-gold violence. As we found out in the Islanders’ Enforcer Olympics, their gold medalist Clark Gillies never had a problem dropping-the-gloves. And what better day to scrap it out than during a playoff game against a fellow podium member. Clearly, # 24 didn’t like Gillies because, after landing about six straight right-hands and at about the 17-second mark, the Bruins legend tossed a vicious knee to the Islanders enforcer. Gillies was a tough dude, but O’Reilly proved he was cut from a different cloth by absolutely dominating this scrap. While it may look as if Gillies dropped O’Reilly at the end with a big right-hand, we must take into account the linesmen were tackling him like Bugs Bunny. In the end, the Islanders sent O’Reilly and the B’s back to Massachusetts as Al Arbour’s squad rattled off 4 straight cups.
This concludes the Big Bad Bruins edition of the Enforcer Olympics. Honorable mentions to Shawn Thorton, P.J. Stock, Wayne Cashman, John Wensink, Looooch, and my pops’ favorite player, Bam-Bam Cam Neely. Tune in next week when we head to one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Vancouver, Canada. Spoiler alert! ‘The Russian Rocket’ Pavel Bure won’t be on there, but you’ll still get to read about some of the toughest dudes to rock one of the best jerseys ever. Tune in to find out!
Twitter:@Jonesinthezone
