Nothing beats an old-school hockeyfight. That we got to see yesterday when Minnesota forward Chris Stewart and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid squared off yesterday.
Chances are if you have a friend, relative or hockey-comrade who grew up watching hockey in the early 70s and above, they may mention how tough the sport of hockey used to be. While it certainly is still one of the toughest sports in the world, the NHL is moving towards a more skill based league, rather than a war on ice.
We’re seeing fewer enforcers each season, and rarely see the game being disciplined by guys like it once was. That is why when Minnesota Wild forward Chris Stewart and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid dropped the gloves, everyone paid close attention.
Canadians going head to head
Stewart has been racking up fights since his days in the OHL, and MacDermid may be relatively new to the league but is no stranger to the on-ice boxing. Standing at 6’2” and 6’3” respectively, these Canadians are your glimpse into hockey’s past and what was a normal occurrence.
The two men competed in hand-to-hand combat and put on a show for the fans. Stewart got the early lead, throwing a couple of lefts before maneuvering to his right. MacDermid ate some punches before retaliating. Ultimately, MacDermid would fall to the ice first but would pop right back up. Unfortunately, at that point, the linesmen had jumped in and ended the bout.
You know it’s a good ol’ tilly when at the end of the fight both men have mutual respect to one another and that is what we saw at the conclusion of this one-round matchup. Stick taps to both gentlemen for a solid fight.
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Watch the epic fight here:
