Wendel Clark: Team Toughness is Essential

“Listen, no one tough guy is going to stop somebody from bothering Phil,” said Clark, the drawmaster for Sunday’s Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine. “You can’t do that in today’s game. But you do that with team toughness.”

Clark believes that in a tough, physical game, when tempers are running high, it’s important that all players on the ice show up and be there when guys are yapping and pushing and shoving — basically show the other team that while you may not have a Orr or McLaren on the bench, you’re not going to be pushed around either.

“You’re showing the solidarity of the team,” said Clark. “Ideally, if you can build a hockey team where your skill guys can do a lot of that, that’s great because they make a difference. In today’s game with no instigator and all that stuff, your tough guys have to be able to play. So if you can get guys who can do a little bit of everything (including fight), they’re a great asset.”