Top Hockey Goalies Gone Wild Moments
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One of the most important positions in professional sports is the hockey goalie.
They are the last line of defense between the opposing team and the goal and often will control the fate of the game based on how they play on any given night.
It's a position that comes with a lot of pressure and takes fearlessness and extreme skill to succeed.
Just like a pitcher in baseball, it's rare when a team sport has a position that so much of a team's success is relying upon it. With that kind of burden comes plenty of stress.
Hockey goalies are well known as being a little different, strange or quirky. It's understandable considering they choose to get in the way of frozen rubber hockey pucks traveling at speeds upward of 100 miles per hour.
In hockey, a big yet controversial part of the game is fighting.
Hockey is the only major sport that 'allows' fighting, though every fight comes with a five minute penalty.
That's not usually a big deal though as it generally takes two to tango, so it's extremely rare when just one player is given a fighting major.
What is rare is when goalies get involved in those kinds of extracurricular activities. With that in mind, here are some of the top goalies gone wild moments from over the years.
Dan Cloutier pummels Tommy Salo (fast forward to the 1:10 mark to get to the goalie fight).
Ed Belfour violates man code and hits Martin Lapointe in a sensitive spot.
Heated rivalry between Colorado and Detroit leads to goalies Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon dropping the gloves.
One year later, Patrick Roy faces the Red Wings again and this time takes on Chris Osgood. (Roy gets involved at 1:10 mark).
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Patrick's son Jonathan Roy goes berzerk and attacks the opposing goalie (the fun starts around :40 seconds in).
Ray Emery and Martin Biron exchange blows (goalies get involved at :35 second mark).
Ryan Miller and Jonathan Bernier let the fists fly after full on line brawl (goalies go around 1:10 mark).
Tim Thomas knows how to protect his crease.
Thomas again protecting his crease, and making sure nobody ever tries to slash his stick again.
Jimmy Howard takes on three St. Louis Blues players.
Curtis Joseph freaks out and takes down a referee.
One final Tim Thomas appearance, as he squares off with rival Carey Price.
A great brawl between Curtis Joseph and Tim Cheveldae is only matched by the broadcaster's call of the fight.
Jamie McLennan gives Johan Franzen the ultimate cheap shot.
Brent Johnson takes out Rick DiPietro with one punch.
Johnson takes on the Islanders Micheal Haley who is looking to avenge DiPietro.
There's just something about a goalie fight that is so much more entertaining than a fight between regular skaters. If you can think of any good ones that aren't on this list, feel free to mention them in the comments section below.
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