THN Archive: 10 Players You Loved To Hate
Vol. 55, Issue 28, March 22, 2002
In today’s curated story from The Hockey News’ Archive, we’re looking back at a cover story from our March 22, 2002 edition – Vol. 55. Issue 28 – and re-examining the 10 players hockey fans loved to hate.
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In this story, written by veteran hockey scribe Scott Burnside, THN in 2002 identified players of all types who earned the wrath of fans, most often because they were so effective as competitors. If they love you or hate you, you have to be doing something right, and these 10 former NHLers earned love from their own fans and received hate from fans of opposing teams, some in particular being more egregious than others.
There was also the flip side to each player, whether it was being a good teammate, being involved in charitable and community work, putting up impressive stats and more.
Wanted: The NHL’s Terrible 10
Vol. 55, Issue 28, March 22, 2002
By Scott Burnside
Hockey Outlaws (but valued teammates)
In Dallas they wear t-shirts with a smoking, 45-caliber handgun next to Bryan Marchment’s name.
In Philadelphia, an enraged Flyers supporter crashed through the penalty box glass after being squirted with water by Tie Domi.
And that’s just how the fans feel about them. Imagine what kind of reaction these players evoke in opposing players or coaches.
Former Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock called the oft-suspended Marchment “sick.”
What the New Jersey Devils called Domi after he clipped Scott Niedermayer with an elbow during the playoffs cannot be repeated outside of a longshoreman’s reunion.
Yet the most vilified players, the ones that spark the most visceral reaction amongst fans, players and coaches, are often the ones teammates cite as being most valuable to a Stanley Cup run (or bar-room brawl). They are players everyone loves to hate but even more, love to have wearing their colors.
Case in point: No one taunted Mario Lemieux with more sneering enthusiasm than Darius Kasparaitis. Penguins GM Craig Patrick hated it so much, he made a deal for the devil.
Here then, in random (violence) order, are the NHL’s Terrible Ten.
The 10 Most Wanted
Bryan Marchment
RAP SHEET: Legendary Al Capone, Billy the Kid and Idi Amin rolled into one. Notorious for knee-on-knee hits. Had a six-game suspension earlier this season and most recently a two-game suspension for his third fight instigator penalty of the season. No less than nine suspensions in his career.
THE FLIP SIDE: Extremely shy. One of the most active Sharks in off-ice charitable works. Loves to fish.
Matthew Barnaby
RAP SHEET: Moved seamlessly from gritty, role player to caricature. The master of jabbering at opponents from behind officials’ backs. Would talk to a park bench as long as it talked back. Suspended last season for altercation with 55-year-old Florida fan following a pummeling at the hands of Panther forward Peter Worrell (see below).
THE FLIP SIDE: Tallied 13 points in 15 playoff games during Buffalo’s march to 1998 conference final.
Darius Kasparaitis
RAP SHEET: Fearless. Many would say fearsome. Low, devastating hits often blur line between hockey and aggravated assault. Will be one of the most sought-after players come trade deadline if ruled an unrestricted free agent. Leads NHL in hits this season.
THE FLIP SIDE: Says he prays for players injured by his hits. Kissed perplexed teammate on the helmet during “kiss cam” promotion in Toronto earlier this season.
Ed Belfour
RAP SHEET: Unrepentant after trying to castrate Detroit’s Martin Lapointe during 1998 conference final. Recently assaulted defenseless televisions, VCR and radio in visitors’ dressing room in Vancouver. Not particularly pleasant to understudies Jeff Hackett and Dominik Hasek in Chicago. And then there’s the whole “billion dollar" situation with the Dallas police.
THE FLIP SIDE: Supports Make A Wish Foundation; the logo adorns his mask.
Donald Brashear
RAP SHEET: Had the ultimate thug’s night out earlier this season, pounding Tie Domi twice and scoring the winning goal against the Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. People forget it was Brashear’s tasteless taunting of the Bruins bench that prompted Marty McSorley to go Lizzie Borden on Brashear’s head. Described by Vancouver writers as “Mr. Warmth.” They were kidding.
THE FLIP SIDE: Flyers went 14-2-0-0 after acquiring him. Accomplished piano player.
Vaclav Varada
RAP SHEET: Newcomer to dastardly list. Suspended for incidents 15 days apart this season. Submarined Habs netminder Jose Theodore near the boards (one game), prompting vicious attempt at retribution from Doug Gilmour. Then butt-ended Eric Lindros in the eye (three games), prompting Theo Fleury, without any respect for irony, to call play “an embarrassment to the game.”
THE FLIP SIDE: Seems genuinely perplexed that his actions enrage opponents.
Chris Chelios
RAP SHEET: Whispered sweet nothings in Theo Fleury’s ear, sending the combustible forward off deep end prior to Olympics. Often seems confused; Axe, stick, axe, stick. Remember Ron Hextall racing from his goal to the blueline in an attempt to blocker Chelios into a coma during the 1989 playoffs?
THE FLIP SIDE: At age 40 may win his fourth Norris Trophy. Pivotal role in U.S. team’s ascension to gold medal game in Salt Lake City.
Matt Cooke
RAP SHEET: Another newcomer who has, in the spirit of Ken Linesman, quickly assembled a long list of players gunning for his head (or various other body parts). Sucker-punch left Jason Marshall of the Wild with a broken nose. Marshall then spent most of the following encounter in fruitless pursuit of Cooke. Vilified by the Oilers.
THE FLIP SIDE: Telling quote: “I wouldn't want to play against myself.”
Tie Domi
RAP SHEET: Like a gangster who tries to go straight. Has committed himself to being a player, but occasionally drawn into acts of thuggery. Elbow versus Scott Niedermayer last season (11-game suspension) long gone, but not forgotten. Once cold-cocked fellow hatee Ulf Samuelsson into another time zone (eight-game suspension).
THE FLIP SIDE: Read part of a kids hockey novel on tape to promote the value of reading to children.
Peter Worrell
RAP SHEET: Runaway leader in NHL penalty minutes with a 50-minute bulge over teammate Brad Ference. Once provoked mild-mannered Scott Niedermayer into two-handing him in the noggin. Closing in on elusive 1:100 club (one goal for every 100 penalty minutes with 12 goals and 1,077 penalty minutes).
THE FLIP SIDE: Led all NHL forwards in hits last season. Is heavily involved with NHL’s diversity task force.
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