The Penalty Box Life
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Perusing the internet, as you do on a Friday morning, we came across a piece from Alex Prewitt over at Si.com. (If you get a chance, it's some good reading)
The article speaks about a lot the hijix and quirks surround the NHL (and lower league's) penalty boxes. Things like the infamous “pickle juice” incident from earlier this season, where Blake Coleman of the New Jersey Devils requested to have a jar of pickle juice on hand in the penalty box for him, as he believes the sodium helps prevent chronic cramping. There are many other stories of different “riders” of sorts.
“This woman would always put a smile on my face with gummy bears, Starburst, all kinds of stuff. I’d stuff them in my pants and bring them over to the bench and save them for later.” – Cam Janssen on what he rexperienced over in England in the penalty box.
He speaks of a story from Tie Domi's Junior B days when he fought a chicken (mascot) in the stands after a game.
“He’s hitting the glass, making all the fans laugh,” Domi says. “And I actually just beat up somebody, so I said to him, ‘You’re next.’ Went to the dressing room after the game was over. I took my skates off. I climbed back upstairs and there was the chicken waiting for me. And I beat the s— out of the chicken.
The part of the story that we (selfishly perhaps) found most endearing was the story from Brad May, about a fight with Krys Barch.
Brad May, 2,248 career PIMs, including a rookie record 309 in ‘91-92: “I was playing for the Anaheim Ducks, I think during the ‘07-08 season. I fought Chris (sic) Barch four times from the Dallas Stars. And we wanted to be the best fight combination of the year on hockeyfights.com. The last one was epic, right around Easter, like late March. So we get to the penalty box and I’m dead, bent over, trying to catch my breath, heavy arms. He’s jumping up and down on his side and he’s screaming, hitting the glass, going, “May Day! May Day! We’re No. 1!” We just sat there, beat the piss out of each other for the last minute and a half, and we’re celebrating in the penalty box because we’re both alive.
These guys never get the kind of respect they deserve, if not for you, the readers and fans of our site. It's amazing the lives these players live, going out night after night and keeping the code intact and honest, while risking their health and fortune each time, for us, the fans.
Source: SI.com – Alex Prewitt “The NHL Penalty Box Is a Small Glass Case Made for Oddities”
