Hockey Enforcers: The Role Of The Tough Guys In Hockey
August 19, 2024 by Bill Burniece
At its core, hockey is a fast-paced, skill-driven sport that demands precision, speed, and tactical brilliance. But there’s another side to the game that has long captivated fans—one that is raw, gritty, and undeniably human: the role of the enforcer.
These players, often derided as mere “goons” by outsiders, have been integral to the fabric of hockey, serving as the guardians of their teammates and the judges of on-ice justice.
To understand the role of the enforcer, you have to go back to the origins of professional hockey. In the early 20th century, hockey was a rough-and-tumble sport where fights were accepted and expected.
As the game evolved and skill began to take precedence, teams realized they needed players who could protect their stars and intimidate the opposition. Thus, the enforcer was born—a player whose primary job wasn’t to score goals but to keep the peace through force.
By the 1970s, the enforcer had become a staple in the NHL. Teams employed players like Dave “The Hammer” Schultz of the Philadelphia Flyers, who still holds the single-season record for penalty minutes (472 minutes in 1974-75), to ensure that their skilled players could operate without fear of being bullied by the opposition.
Schultz and others like him weren’t just thugs but skilled players who understood the game’s intricacies.
However, their primary value lay in their ability to throw down the gloves and engage in fisticuffs when the situation called for it.
The Enforcer’s Code
The life of an enforcer is governed by a code—an unwritten set of rules that dictate when and how they should engage in fights.
This code is about respect, honor, and, strangely enough, sportsmanship. Enforcers don’t pick on smaller players or engage in unnecessary violence. Instead, they target players who cross the line by taking liberties with a teammate or breaking the game’s unwritten rules.
If an opponent targeted a star player like Wayne Gretzky, it was the enforcer’s job to send a message. Marty McSorley, who protected Gretzky during his time with the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, was a prime example.
McSorley’s main job was to drop the gloves and defend his teammates, accumulating 3,381 penalty minutes over his career—ranking 4th all-time in the NHL.
Evolution and Decline
The instigator rule, introduced in 1992, penalized players for starting fights, effectively reducing the number of brawls in the league. This, coupled with a growing emphasis on speed and skill, led to a decline in the traditional enforcer role.
However, that doesn’t mean enforcers disappeared altogether. Players like Zdeno Chara, a 6’9” behemoth who played most of his career with the Boston Bruins, brought a new dimension to the role. Chara wasn’t just an enforcer; he was a skilled defenseman who could shut down opposing teams’ best players while still being more than willing to drop the gloves when necessary.
The Numbers Game
For decades, fighting was widely believed to be a core element of hockey’s appeal, drawing fans to the game with its raw intensity. The spectacle of a brawl on the ice was often seen as a key factor in filling seats and keeping viewers glued to their screens.
Fighting in the NHL has decreased significantly over the past two decades. In the 2000-01 season, there were 803 fights in 1,230 games, averaging about 0.65 fights per game. By the 2022-23 season, that number had dropped to just 0.19 fights per game, with only 235 fights across the entire league.
To maintain and even boost the sport’s appeal amid the decline in fighting, the NHL has introduced various new features and partnerships, including embracing the rapidly growing world of sports betting. Fans now have more ways to engage with the game beyond just watching it. For example, sports betting platforms offer promotions like the BetMGM bonus code, allowing fans to place bets and feel more connected to the action on the ice.
Final Thoughts
Enforcers were never just about the fights. They were about protecting their teammates, standing up for what was right, and ensuring the game was played how it was meant to be. They were the unsung hockey heroes, the tough guys who did the dirty work so that the stars could shine.
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