Mysterious new report reveals the dark side of Avalanche history
Photo credit: Ethan Mille / Mile High Sticking
A mysterious new report takes a deep dive into the darker, more hard-nosed side of Colorado Avalanche history, shining a spotlight on the toughest, most fearsome enforcers to ever to wear the team's sweater.
One thing is certain, fans have a deep respect for the role and the players who embrace it. Across the league, these tough guys consistently earn fan-favourite status.
Mysterious new report uncovers Avalanche's gritty past.
Sean McKenna from Mile High Sticking writes that the franchise's all-time leader in penalty minutes is none other than Dale Hunter, who also holds the NHL's career record. Known league-wide for his aggressive and often dirty style, Hunter spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Quebec Nordiques.
"His reputation as a rat supercedes his hockey ability. Hunter scored 464 points in 535 games as a Nordique. The 5'10», 198 pounder provided quality depth for the Nordiques and never shied away from a scrum, totaling double digits in fights five different times as a member of the team. Perhaps most famous for an act he committed in the '93 playoffs while wearing a Capitals sweater, Hunter logged 1562 penalty minutes for Quebec." -McKenna
According to online fight trackers, Cody McLeod holds the record for the most fights in Avalanche history with 129. The Manitoba native spent ten seasons in burgundy and blue, recording over ten fights in nine of them. A relentless, hard-working fan favourite, McLeod was always willing to do whatever it took to help his team.
"The only season he had less than ten fights was 2012-13 when he only played 48 games. McLeod would chip in the occasional offense, scoring five or more goals nine times as a member of the team. McLeod knew his main job was to ensure his teammates were taken care of. He earned over 100 penalty minutes nine times while wearing the Avalanche sweater and was respected by teammates." -McKenna
Fear is a subjective experience, what terrifies one person might not faze another. But when it comes to Avalanche nation, there was one consensus: everyone feared Scott "The Sheriff" Parker.
"The 6'5» 240-pound behemoth was an enforcer for the team for parts of six seasons, racking up 538 penalty minutes in just 237 games. Parker did not provide much for the team besides keeping the other team within the rules, but that's all the Avalanche needed from him. He earned his nickname by policing the players on the ice." -McKenna
The imposing Parker, known for his sleeve tattoos and thick goatee, fully embraces his role on the team. He fought over 15 times in two separate seasons with the Avalanche. Whenever Parker took the ice, opposing teams knew they couldn't push around Colorado's players anymore.
"Jeff Odgers was another player other teams feared; not because of his size and look, but because of his temperament on the ice. The scrappy 200 pounder played just three seasons for the Avalanche but is second on their all-time fights list with 72. He has more than 25 fights twice, with 16 his final season as an Av." -McKenna
Odgers played fearlessly, taking on a who's who NHL enforcer like Tie Domi, Donald Brashear, and Jim Cummins.
Had he spent more time with the Avalanche, he might hold the team's fight record, but instead, he's remembered as the most unpredictable tough guy in franchise history.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 1 | 23 ANSWERS Mysterious new report reveals the dark side of Avalanche history Who would you say is the toughest players to don the Avalanche sweater? | ||
| Dale Hunter | 8 | 34.8 % |
| Cody McLeod | 4 | 17.4 % |
| Scott Parker | 10 | 43.5 % |
| Jeff Odgers | 1 | 4.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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