As it turns out, you don’t have to be that good at hockey to play in the NHL. Well, you don’t have to be that good at scoring, puck handling or skating. What some players lack in technical skill, they more make up in other desirable traits: fearlessness and brute strength.
Ice Guardians, a documentary focusing on the role of the enforcer in hockey, was shown at a special screening at Tampa Theater Monday night. The documentary features NHL heavy hitters and glove droppers such as Tampa Bay’s own Zenon Konopka, Tod Fedoruk and more.
The enforcer has been around since the beginning of hockey. He’s there for intimidation, retribution, and to spill blood all over the ice. He’s the tough guy on the team; there not for our entertainment, but to protect and serve. Many enforcers are players whose ability would only take them so far, so they had to use their fists and physicality to make it in the sport.
No matter your views on the fighting and the game of hockey, the two have gone hand-in-hand since day one. The first fight happened right around the time the first hit occurred. According to the film, the first organized game in an arena ended in a bench-clearing brawl.
The movie dives deep into the reasons why someone would want to put their health, career, and physical well-being at risk and become a shark in a sea of blood looking to spill more. One might just as easily wonder why firefighters fight fires, or why armies go to war.
Players describe the enforcer as a loyal protector. For every Wayne Gretsky, there is a Dave Semenko to back him up. Men like Semenko were there to make members of the other team answer for hitting players such as Gretsky. Enforcers are there to allow scoring players to skate freely with confidence, knowing a guardian angel is there to back them up.
“Without [Wayne] Cashman and [Ken] Hodge … I never would have scored the goals I scored,” Tampa Bay Lightning founder and NHL Hall of Famer Phil Esposito said during a Q&A after the film. “I knew that if anybody came near me, or hit me dirty, Cash and Hodgy would do something about it.”
The nature of the game is a petri dish festering with reasons why players like these are needed. The pure speed of the game is a cause for heavy hits that deserve retribution from men who, by virtue of the game, carry weapons in the forms of sticks and sharpened blades on their feet. The catalyst for controversy is bubbling over, and needs to be kept in check by players willing to sacrifice themselves via a bare-knuckle boxing match on ice.
The recent generation of enforcers has taken the role to a new level. The film followed former NHL players on their training routines, which are now integrated with MMA fighting training, boxing, jiu jitsu, and even wrapping their knuckles in chains and punching trees.
“It evolved to the point where you guys believed that [fighting] is the only thing you have to do. You were good enough to make it, and you think you made it with your fists … but you made it because you had talent,” Esposito said, in contrast to what some players believe.
The lifestyle of an enforcer takes a toll. Interviews from the likes of Todd Fedoruk, who had so many facial reconstruction surgeries he couldn’t keep count, and Keith Westgarth, who has had several hand surgeries to repair his knuckles, illustrate the various physical problems caused by fighting. A closer look at the who these men are helped put fighting into perspective. Depression, alcoholism, and drug addiction were seen in players who have been known to be the biggest heavyweights. These things were not caused by fighting, but could be a factor of the personality traits that make them fighters.
The documentary reminds the viewer what the purpose of fighting is. It’s not about ratings, money, or entertainment. It’s about honor, respect, and the men who care so greatly about the game.
But the enforcer is a dying breed. The hits add up. The game has sped up. Players are getting younger and more talented, and the league is cracking down on violent behavior. Many former NHL enforcers now find themselves playing in the minor leagues or in European hockey leagues, where fighting is frowned upon.
As the game continues to evolve, we may see the tough guys dwindle in favor of finesse and agility. These roles will then be left open, possibly to again be filled with the maniacs and madmen that belong in them. Make no mistake, the fight will remain in hockey, but not in the same capacity.
Ice Guardians was produced by international award-winning filmmaker Adam Scorgie and directed by Brett Harvey. At nearly two hours long, it will keep any fan of hockey hooked. Some strong hockey language and hockey violence might be a bit much for the kids — unless, of course, you’re raising a future enforcer. In that case, maybe give the babysitter the night off.
This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2016.
