Hockey and Halloween just go together. From the players with teeth like jack o’ lanterns, to the goalie masks, to the third jersey of the Buffalo Sabres, hockey can be downright scary sometimes. In that same vain, there have been some frightening players and teams over the years. Adding to that, hockey has also featured players with spooky names as well. With that, let’s take a tour of the haunted house of hockey.
You want scary? How about the Broad Street Bullies of the Philadelphia Flyers? The orange and black fit right in with the holiday.
Feeling devilish? Don’t be caught trick-or-treating with your head down, or Scott Stevens may turn you into the headless horseman.
Ever want to see how the “Jason” goalie mask is made? Of course you did.
Now for those ghoulish names:
For six games during the 1977-78 season, Minnesota North Stars fans weren’t booing, wait maybe they were. After all Jim Boo played for them that year and accumulated 22 penalty minutes.
Sticking with the ghost theme, former Boston Bruins player and coach Steve Kasper skated in the league for the better part of 15 seasons and coached for two. Kasper potted 177 career goals and won the Selke Trophy in 1981-82.
Flipping back to the devil theme, how about former Sabre Miroslav Satan and his 363 goals or current Devil Damien Brunner?
Pumpkin carving your thing? One guy who carved out a respectable career was Joe Carveth. Carveth carved out 504 games between the Detroit Red Wings, Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. Alright, enough already with the terrible carving puns.
A fan of Friday the 13th? Well Halloween falls on a Thursday in 2013 so that’s about as close as you’re going to come. Having said that, you may also be a fan of Tim Friday, who played defence for the Detroit Red Wings, collecting three assists in 23 contests. Friday was also a member of the 1985-86 Calder Cup champion Adirondack Red Wings.
Are zombies your thing? If you like the “Walking Dead” maybe you’re an Adam Deadmarsh fan. Playing for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, Deadmarsh racked up 184 goals and 819 penalty minutes, winning a Stanley Cup with the Avs in 1995-96.
Still reading this? Still afraid of the dark? Sorry, can’t help you there. So bring along a flashlight and Friday’s R.P.I. teammate, Mike Dark. Dark played 43 games on the St. Louis Blues blue line, scoring five goals and adding six helpers in his career.
Well that’s all I have for now so have a happy Halloween but beware of the penguins and steer clear of the grim reaper.
Michael Gwizdala covers the New York Islanders for The Hockey Writers. Michael is also an Associate Producer at WNYT NewsChannel 13. Additionally, Michael was once a Media Relations intern for the AHL Albany River Rats. Michael is a graduate of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY.
