Classic with Video Terry O'Reilly vs Behn Wilson Mar 19th, 1981 (both rounds)

[Boreal01]

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[crump]

“hammer and tongs”

 

[Bench Clearer]

The 1981 NHL scouting report said that if more players played the way O'Reilly did, hockey would be a better game. Never was alive to see him play but man was he fun to watch, whether he was throwing body checks or fighting. His fighting style is highly entertaining....just swing away like a mad man without any real regard for defense!

I marvel at Wilson too. That guy seemed to dominate nearly everyone he fought against.

 

[ps241]

The 1981 NHL scouting report said that if more players played the way O'Reilly did, hockey would be a better game. Never was alive to see him play but man was he fun to watch, whether he was throwing body checks or fighting. His fighting style is highly entertaining....just swing away like a mad man without any real regard for defense!

I marvel at Wilson too. That guy seemed to dominate nearly everyone he fought against.

Good points I am old enough where I was alive for this era. I was a kid watching O’Reilly play and one of the more important things to remember is he was a really good hockey player. In his prime years he was generally over 60 points in a season.

As to his fighting he was such a true warrior. The Achilles heel with ”taz” is he had brutal balance during his fights. What I loved about him is he didn’t give a shit and he fought open to win. He was fearless and always ”game” for a go. He had to survive during the era when super heavy weights began appearing like Wilson and Gillies then the Dave Brown’s of the world. He was a little older than them but they overlapped. One of my all time favorite fighters due to his relentless spirit.

Behn Wilson is a fascinating since he was an all time great but he had a very light fight card. One of my favorite hockey fight historians loved Wilson and when I asked him about Behn he said one of his weaknesses is with left handers and he felt that was because Behn didn’t love trading shots. He was certainly one of the best all time but it was tough for me rate him do to lack of actively.

 

[GMR]

Good points I am old enough where I was alive for this era. I was a kid watching O’Reilly play and one of the more important things to remember is he was a really good hockey player. In his prime years he was generally over 60 points in a season.

As to his fighting he was such a true warrior. The Achilles heel with ”taz” is he had brutal balance during his fights. What I loved about him is he didn’t give a shit and he fought open to win. He was fearless and always ”game” for a go. He had to survive during the era when super heavy weights began appearing like Wilson and Gillies then the Dave Brown’s of the world. He was a little older than them but they overlapped. One of my all time favorite fighters due to his relentless spirit.

Behn Wilson is a fascinating since he was an all time great but he had a very light fight card. One of my favorite hockey fight historians loved Wilson and when I asked him about Behn he said one of his weaknesses is with left handers and he felt that was because Behn didn’t love trading shots. He was certainly one of the best all time but it was tough for me rate him do to lack of actively.

Huh?

Wilson fought Gillies, O'Reilly, Wensink, Fotiu, Jonathan, Semenko, Plett, Clark.

How is that a light fight card?

 

[ps241]

Huh?

Wilson fought Gillies, O'Reilly, Wensink, Fotiu, Jonathan, Semenko, Plett, Clark.

How is that a light fight card?

Nothing wrong with the quality of his opponents but for his era he didn’t fight that often compared to his peers. Behn was a bad ass but 78 career fights is light (quantity wise) in my opinion.

 

[GMR]

Nothing wrong with the quality of his opponents but for his era he didn’t fight that often compared to his peers. Behn was a bad ass but 78 career fights is light (quantity wise) in my opinion.

Most of the tough guys back then didn't fight much. Gillies, Wilson, Playfair, Fotiu, these guys didn't fight often and probably didn't have many takers. If you're looking for enforcers to fight at least 20 or 30 times per year, the late 80's to late 90's would be the peak for those types of fight cards.

Plus, I'm sure those fight logs don't have all fights captured and footage isn't always available to verify.

People also forget that Wilson was a good player. He scored 359 points on defense in 601 games. Not your typical enforcer numbers. He could move the puck and skate well for a guy his size. He didn't need to fight. Also, by reputation he wasn't the type to stick up for teammates either.

 

[ps241]

Most of the tough guys back then didn't fight much. Gillies, Wilson, Playfair, Fotiu, these guys didn't fight often and probably didn't have many takers. If you're looking for enforcers to fight at least 20 or 30 times per year, the late 80's to late 90's would be the peak for those types of fight cards.

Plus, I'm sure those fight logs don't have all fights captured and footage isn't always available to verify.

People also forget that Wilson was a good player. He scored 359 points on defense in 601 games. Not your typical enforcer numbers. He could move the puck and skate well for a guy his size. He didn't need to fight. Also, by reputation he wasn't the type to stick up for teammates either.

Some good points. Funny most of these guys I remember their ability as hockey players pretty well but Behn falls through the cracks for me. I know he was a legit hockey player but he was a guy I didn’t really notice (probably because I wasn’t watching that part). I did enjoy the era where “most” of the guys were hockey player/fighter’s vs just strait designated hitters.