Hey guys, thanks for the wonderful comments so far. I'll definitely have to do a mail bag segment real soon!
When I finished my last blog on why we fight in the NHL, I promised you that I'd continue with the code that guys follow on and off the ice.
When you go out there to fight a guy, you can't just go fight anybody. Before the game, in the locker room, there is always a list posted with the names of every guy you are playing that night and their tendencies. For instance, one guy's list could be that he is good on faceoffs, bad defensively, good shot, etc.
Guys will go over that list and identify guys that fight. They will talk about things like, "this guy likes to throw lefts," or " he will only throw rights." So you won't see a player from another team go ask Patrick Kane to fight, they know that he doesn't fight.
As I talked about in my last blog, if you are looking for a momentum changing fight, you will only go ask the guys that you know are willing to fight. In this situation, often times guys don't have a deep hatred for who they are fighting. Don't get me wrong, once the fight starts you are trying your best to win, but guys that fight understand the reason behind it, and often times will have a short friendly conversation before.
I'll give you an example. I'm sure many of you saw a fight I had last year against a guy in Vancouver. The game had not even started yet. The guy from Vancouver and I were about to take the opening face off to start the game. We stood across from each other and he said, "How's it going tonight Bur?" I said, "Pretty good, you want to get our teams into this game right away, and set the tone?" He said "you bet."
So I said, "Once the ref drops the puck let's do it!"
I promise that's the true story. The ref dropped the puck and we went at it. The building went nuts. Guys on our team were smiling and yelling... they were now ready to battle. It was a great way to get some excitement to start a game.
Editor's note: Here is the video of that fight:
There are also situations where the coach may tell guys not to fight. Say we are winning by three goals, the other team may send out an energy line to create momentum, a guy may ask somebody to fight. This is a time you would want to say no.
One time we were up on the Red Wings late in a game . I was lined up against Darren McCarty for a face off . He's a guy who I have always respected as a player. He looked over at me and said word for word, " hey kid how you doing, you interested in fighting tonight?" I told him, "I'd love to fight you Darren but coach said no fighting right now." So McCarty being a guy that has played for a long time understood and said "I understand, keep playing hard kid."
I'm going to leave you with those thoughts. Next time, I'll conclude this topic with a few more thoughts!
Thanks guys!
Adam Burish, 25, is a native of Madison, Wisc. and is entering his second full NHL season with the Blackhawks. The 6-1, 189-pound winger scored four goals and four assists last season, but his role as an enforcer was reflected by a team-high 214 penalty minutes, which ranked third in the NHL. Burish is not one to mess with on the ice, but he's known to have a great personality and sense of humor off the ice.
Man, this blog is awesome.
Adam, you may have just passed Nick Licari as my favorite Badger from the last five years.
Adam,
I think you need to take time to make fun of Tom Gilbert's blog:
http://forums.edmontonoilers.com/index.php?s=c854115940ac1f971202aaefdd97719f&autocom=blog&blogid=6&showentry=44#comments
Ha Ha Big difference under Q. Gutless move by Hawks to fire Savvy. Do it in off season or give him more time this year. Hope Vancouver blows them out at home tonight. It's not the coach, Scotty, it's players like Havlat who don't play half the time.
Great article Adam. There is a great book out on exactly that. It's called the Code and its all about hockey fights. Great book, and lots of great stories just like Adam's.
I wish more American sports fans understood the role of fighting in hockey. Sometimes you need a policeman out there when the other team is taking liberties behind the ref's back. A fight is simply an honest way to deal with this type of situation.
If you follow football, you hear horror stories about the kinds of things that can happen in a pile up (where the ref can't see what is happening). Players have had their eyes gouged, fingers bent and broken, and other unmentionable acts. This is shameful and cowardly. At least hockey players will go toe to toe and duke it out like honest men when they feel someone has crossed the line. Fighting is a necessary safety valve in a high energy, high contact sport like hockey.
Hey Adam, your blogs are great. I just have a question, that doesn't deal with fighting, though I think that's all great too. In the video blog, other players state that you and Wiz don't like paying for anything, so I'm curious, if you and Wiz went out to dinner together, who would pay? Thanks!
How much more of a momentum changer is it when someone who generally isn't recognized as a fighter drops the gloves?
Last year, Crosby earned his spurs, and I have to believe that gave the Pens a huge lift.
As someone who has been a Captain, does that sort of thing play more heavily into a team's psyche than one of the guys who is more known for fighting going?
Adam: I've always understood that every team needs a fighter and for the Hawks you're that guy. But I also believe that the little, sometimes unoticed things you do make you a very important part of this team. The way you block shots, forecheck and backcheck will be very important to the team this year. Too bad they don't keep stats on that stuff. I also love how you leave it all out there every shift. You remind me of Chelios in that way and thats what I teach my kids about sports. 110% every minute of every game.
Very interesting and engaging article about the fisticuff code. I sent it to a couple of buddies so they could share on the insight you divulged. Also, i'm headed to Madison this weekend to party and was looking for a recommendation on where to watch your upcoming game saturday against the Wings, and any local favorite bar's in general that would be worth hitting up.
Adam:
It'll be interesting to see what your final thoughts on this topic are in your next post.
Certainly, there are a lot of opinions about fighting to protect your skill players and "create space" for them, as well as fighting in response to big hits (as your former teammate and fellow ex-Badger captain Rene Borque did last night).
Trent:
If you're in Madison this weekend, you may want to skip out on the Hawks-Wings game and check out Burish's alma mater play their biggest series of the year. Friday and Saturday nights the Wisconsin Badgers will be taking on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the Kohl Center. The games are probably sold out, but there are always scalpers outside the Kohl Center before the game, and its worth a shot to see one of the best matchups in the country.
If you insist on checking out the Hawks-Wings game saturday, I'm not sure what the best place to check out will be. Most downtown/campus bars will certainly be showing the border battle, but some of the ones with lots of tvs (I recommend State Street Brats on State and Frances) might be able to accomodate you.
Burish-
Does your hatred for former rivals in the WCHA, especially former Sioux & Gopher players carry over to the NHL? Can we expect an Oshie or Greene fight this season?
Love your blog. I know we're getting WAY ahead of ourselves here, but when you DO decide to hang 'em up ten, twelve years from now, if you don't land in the Hawks' booth doing color, something's definitely wrong. Lots to do before then, though. Have a great season, man.
Great blog Adam,
It's very interesting to hear about the the little things that go on out there when your going to have a scrap being a big hockeyfights fan.
Say hi to Sean Avery on Halloween for us over at Hockeyfights.com, i think you know what i mean ;)
Have a great season!
Great blog!!!
Came this close to getting into a scrap at a metal show tonight cause some jerk was trying to go after my buddy for having too much fun. You know I had my Adam Burish smile going in full effect! Gives Nicholson a run for it's money!
You're an inspiration to us all, Adam. Keep it up.
Adam keep it up,love your spirit!You remind me of a old Hawks D-Man Phil Russell.Love ye kid!
adam this is my first time writing on ur blogs and i think it wood be rely cool if u nwrote a blog of the best fighters u have fought and the best fighters that u think r out of the whole league even if u havent fought them
thanks- johnny