Hockey has always been a highly competitive and intense sport. This can breed aggressive behavior from players on and off the ice. In this article, we take a look at some of the hockey players who have become famous for their unsportsmanlike behavior and scandals.
Chris Simon
One of the dirtiest hockey players in the history of the game. In 1995, he is known for his unsportsmanlike behavior in a Philadelphia Flyers game against the Buffalo Sabres. Simon hit Gilendy Kadini several times in the head area, who was unconscious on the ice. As a result of the incident, Simon was disqualified and banned for the next 12 games, the longest penalty for a rules violation in NHL history.
Todd Bertussi
Known for his brutality on the ice, this hockey player received many punishments for his scandalous actions. A shocking incident occurred in 2004 during a game between the Colorado Evelanche and the Minnesota White Caps. Bertussi delivered a heavy blow with his stick to his opponent’s eye. As a result of the incident, Bertussi was suspended for 10 games and fined $5,000.
Matthew Bartsch
Another hockey player known for his rudeness and aggression in the game. In 2011, during a Florida Panthers game against the Vancouver Canucks, Bartsch hit Ryan Kluper in the head with his stick. Kluper was injured and in turn Barch was suspended for 10 games.
Zdravko Krnecal
A former hockey player from Yugoslavia who became known for his dirty moves in the game. In one of the matches between Yugoslavia and Denmark during the 1984 Olympics, Krnecal struck his opponent in the teeth with his stick, tearing his lips. Krnecal was suspended for 6 games for this offense.
Derek Boogaard
It may seem strange to include this player in the list of dirty hockey players, as Boogaard was one of the most popular hockey players in the NHL. However, he received quite a few penalties for his antics on the ice. In 2013, Boogaard died as a result of an injury sustained during a game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.
Matthew Barzal
A National Hockey League (NHL) star and New York Islanders player who has shown a lackluster performance. In 2019, Barzal was suspended from the field for a hard hit on Thomas Chabot of the Ottawa Senators. This led to a scandal and Barzal was fined by the NHL. However, this was not Barzal’s first display of aggression. In 2017, he was suspended for unsportsmanlike behavior in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
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Jonathan Taves
The captain of the Chicago Blackhawks team and an Olympic champion. However, he was the subject of a domestic violence investigation scandal in 2020. Taves’ ex-girlfriend accused him of domestic violence as well as oppression and psychological abuse. The allegations were confirmed and Taves was forced to plead guilty.
Zac Rinaldo
A former player for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes NHL teams, his profile resembles a true fighter rather than a hockey player. Rinaldo was a frequent visitor to the substitution bench, as he was known for his penchant for unsportsmanlike behavior on the ice. Throughout his NHL career, Rinaldo was suspended 20 times. In 2016, he was fined and suspended for 5 games for elbowing an opponent in the head.
Ty Domi
Another famous fighter in the NHL was Ty Domi. He played in the league for over 16 years and committed many unsportsmanlike and aggressive acts on the ice. In 2001, he was suspended for punching Anaheim Ducks’ Rob Niedermayer in the face with a knockout punch. This resulted in Domi being fined 1,000 and suspended for 8 games.
Patrick Roy
This is one of the most famous goalies in hockey history. He was known for his aggressiveness and frequent conflicts on the ice. One of the most famous cases was when Roy demanded that his mentor be replaced during a game against his former team Montreal Canadiens in 1995. This led to a scandal and Roy being reassigned to the Colorado Avalanche team.
While dirty and scandalous hockey players often draw attention to themselves with their behavior on the ice, they are ultimately detrimental to their team and the game as a whole. It is important to remember that hockey is a sport where it is important to follow the rules and show respect for opponents and referees.