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122:, despite having been demoted out of the league at the time of his election. He unexpectedly played a key role in his division's victory by scoring two goals, where fan response also led to him being named the most valuable player of the tournament. Fighting skills can allow insufficiently talented or smaller players to play in leagues where their hockey skills alone would not have otherwise granted them admission.
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70:, players who seek to agitate opponents and distract them from the game, without necessarily fighting them. The pest's primary role is to draw penalties from opposing players, thus "getting them off their game", while not actually intending to fight the opposition player (although exceptions to this do occur). Pests and enforcers often play together on the same
112:: "The enforcer, sometimes mocked as a goon or euphemized as a tough guy, may be hockey's favorite archetype. Enforcers are seen as working-class superheroes—understated types with an alter ego willing to do the sport's most dangerous work to protect others. And they are underdogs, men who otherwise might have no business in the game."
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was found dead at the age of 35 in his
Toronto hotel room in circumstances that caused a newspaper's police source to categorize his death as a suicide. A year earlier in July 2010, Bob Probert died of an apparent heart attack in his mid-40s. Later tests indicated brain damage and CTE from his years
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on the fourth forward checking line. Prized for their aggression, size, checking ability, and fists, enforcers are typically less gifted at skill areas of the game than their teammates. Enforcers are typically among the lowest scoring players on the team and receive a smaller share of ice time. They
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fights occurred in 38.46% of the games, up from 33% the season before, which was just below the pre-lockout fighting level of 41.14% of games in the 2003–04 season. The frequency has steadily declined over time, from 1.3 fights per game in the late 1980s to 0.5 in 2012. Major penalties for fighting
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to increase game speed and scoring. With a decrease in fighting, teams are less inclined to keep a roster spot available for a one-dimensional fighter who is a liability as a scorer and defender. This has led to a decrease in the number of players whose predominant role is enforcer.
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was among the best fighters in the NHL during his prime, but over time he rarely had to fight because opponents respected and feared him enough that they would not go after his teammates. Some skilled players, such as legends
90:(NHL), teams generally do not carry enforcers on their roster, as their general lack of hockey skills makes them a liability, and the trend away from fighting further reduces their usefulness. Enforcers can play either
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sportswriter John Branch covered
Boogaard's death and the "epidemic" of chronic traumatic encephalopathy that has come as a result of frequent head trauma sustained by hockey enforcers.
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once scored 90 points in a season, being the first player to finish in the top ten regular season scorers while amassing at least 200 penalty minutes, and later became captain of the
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Instead, more well-rounded players are expected to contribute aspects of the enforcer role. Intimidation and fighting continue to be utilized as a strategy in the NHL. In the
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55:". An enforcer's job is to deter and respond to dirty or violent play by the opposition. When such play occurs, the enforcer is expected to respond aggressively, by
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Enforcers sometimes take boxing lessons to improve their fighting. Some players combine aspects of the enforcer role with strong play in other areas of the game.
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are examples of enforcers who showed an occasional scoring flair, with
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opines that in light of recent tragic events there should be more done about it, including eliminating the role altogether.
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221:(CTE) and the mood alteration that is associated with the condition. During the summer of 2011, three NHL enforcers died.
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the offender. Enforcers are expected to react particularly harshly to violence against star players or goalies.
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Ice hockey player known for their physicality and intimidating presence
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declined by 25% annually in the first half of the 2011–2012 season.
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Sometimes enforcers can do their job by virtue of their reputation.
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died at the age of 27 from what was later confirmed as a suicide.
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provide counselling to enforcers. Sports journalist and writer
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Enforcers are nevertheless often popular on their teams.
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or defense, although they are most frequently used as
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565:"Wade Belak's death another warning sign for NHL"
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458:After The Whistle: Al Secord - Points 'n Punches
43:. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "
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623:BBC World Service, Assignment, 22 January 2012
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193:", for stocking up on grinders and enforcers.
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588:"Derek Boogaard: A Boy Learns to Brawl"
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372:Traikos, Michael (December 2, 2015).
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518:Klein, Jeff Z. (January 22, 2012).
494:Higgins, Matt (December 19, 2006).
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404:Mirtle, James (December 2, 2015).
347:"Derek Boogaard: Blood on the Ice"
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345:Branch, John (December 5, 2011).
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82:National Hockey League
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1280:Gordie Howe hat trick
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546:"Upon Further Review"
263:List of NHL enforcers
167:Gordie Howe hat trick
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191:Broad Street Bullies
198:2004–05 NHL lockout
183:Philadelphia Flyers
1437:In popular culture
1376:Arenas by capacity
524:The New York Times
500:The New York Times
463:2007-09-28 at the
439:. January 31, 2016
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351:The New York Times
206:2007–08 NHL season
177:In the 1970s, the
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237:Retired enforcer
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911:Awarded goal
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30:Stanley Cups
26:Dave Semenko
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1576:Other roles
1355:Towel Power
1350:Three stars
1238:Terminology
1067:Saucer pass
779:Skate guard
616:ESPN: Goons
597:December 6,
443:February 1,
357:December 8,
353:. p. 4
330:January 15,
227:Rick Rypien
159:Gordie Howe
135:Chris Simon
131:Bob Probert
104:John Branch
1628:Categories
1608:Head coach
1531:Defenceman
1526:Goaltender
1364:Statistics
1310:Puck bunny
1290:Hockeytown
1148:Underwater
1123:Rink bandy
1086:Variations
1077:Wrist shot
816:Defenceman
811:Goaltender
697:Cooperalls
658:Ice hockey
417:January 3,
389:January 3,
275:References
231:Wade Belak
139:Tom Wilson
116:John Scott
41:ice hockey
1613:Officials
1519:Positions
1432:Nicknames
1371:Analytics
1335:Skatemill
1270:Five-hole
1199:Forecheck
1174:Breakaway
1169:Backcheck
1164:Analytics
1093:Broomball
1072:Snap shot
1057:One timer
1031:Tuck rule
976:Officials
921:Breakaway
797:Positions
689:Equipment
437:SB Nation
325:USA Today
106:wrote in
49:tough guy
1583:Enforcer
1460:Category
1442:Violence
1427:Fighting
1340:Slapshot
1179:Checking
1157:Strategy
1026:Tripping
1006:Roughing
986:Overtime
946:Face-off
931:Clipping
926:Charging
916:Boarding
869:Enforcer
753:Uniform
749:T-Blades
550:CBC News
530:June 18,
461:Archived
257:See also
61:checking
57:fighting
37:Enforcer
1603:Captain
1588:Grinder
1541:Forward
1470:Commons
1396:Fenwick
1214:Loafing
1184:Cycling
1138:Special
1103:Fantasy
1098:College
991:Penalty
981:Offside
966:Hooking
956:Halifax
874:Grinder
859:Captain
836:Two-way
826:Forward
717:Trapper
707:Blocker
674:Leagues
669:History
189:" and "
96:wingers
92:forward
76:grinder
51:", or "
45:fighter
1558:Winger
1536:Centre
1255:Diving
1250:Assist
1224:Screen
1133:Sledge
1128:Shinny
1118:Power‎
1040:Skills
843:Winger
821:Centre
762:Jersey
757:Helmet
481:cbc.ca
137:, and
1598:Rover
1401:Point
1391:Films
1305:Point
1143:Table
1108:Minor
971:Icing
906:Arena
898:Rules
884:Rover
864:Coach
852:Other
831:Power
772:Socks
767:Pants
739:Stick
734:Skate
724:Glove
679:Teams
295:. CNN
68:pests
1593:Pest
1345:Stop
1315:Save
1209:Line
1113:Pond
1062:Pass
1052:Deke
1021:Slot
1016:Shot
1001:Rink
951:Goal
879:Pest
804:Main
744:Tape
729:Puck
712:Mask
599:2011
573:2011
532:2012
445:2016
419:2016
391:2016
359:2011
332:2015
301:2011
181:and
72:line
53:goon
47:", "
59:or
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