Top 5 Fighters in Carolina Hurricanes History

It's Enforcer Week at The Hockey News and each team site is taking a look at some of the toughest guys in hockey.

To be honest, the Carolina Hurricanes have never been big into pugilism.

While the Canes did historically employ enforcers as every other team did back in the day, those guys were never around for more than a season or two and generally they weren't remembered for their Carolina days.

But from passing greats to short and memorable careers, the Hurricanes have still had their fair share of tough guys though.

Since it's 'Enforcer Week' at The Hockey News, we're going to take a look at some of the toughest guys to don a Hurricanes sweater.

My goal is to remember some of Carolina's most memorable tough guys, but also to highlight a few, 'Oh man, he was a Cane?' as well.

 

1. Tim Gleason

546 GP, 537 PIM, 36 fights

While Gleason was never a player out looking to fight, he was definitely someone opponents didn't want to see grabbing their jerseys in a scuffle.

One of the toughest Hurricanes of all-time, he epitomized strength in every sense of the word. 

A gritty, stay-at-home defenseman, Gleason ate shots, delivered hits, and almost nothing could keep him off the ice. And yes, he did whoop some butt too.

Gleason was Carolina's chief protector for nearly a decade and is tied for the team lead in fighting majors.

Now an assistant coach with the Canes, he and Brind'Amour make up perhaps the toughest bench duo in the entire NHL.

2. Stu Grimson

157 GP, 422 PIM, 46 fights (One season with Hartford Whalers)

Undoubtedly the toughest guy on this list, 'The Grim Reaper' was feared as one of the best enforcers and fighters in the game. With a nickname like that, you don't have to imagine the kind of player Grimson was.

Despite playing in 729 games, Grimson finished his NHL career with just 17 goals and 39 points, however, his 2,113 penalty minutes ranks 44th all time and his 271 fights ranks 10th.

He played just a single season in Carolina, the inaugural 1997-98 season, and had one prior with the Hartford Whalers, but between those two seasons, he fought 46 times.

He makes it this high on the list for his notoriety alone, despite not really being remembered as a Hurricane.

 

3. Jesse Boulerice

150 GP, 286 PIM, 36 fights

The other top dog for the Hurricanes' team lead in fighting majors, Boulerice ties Gleason with 36 fights as a Cane, but in considerably less time.

A pure enforcer, Boulerice's NHL career was short, but he made his presence known on the faces of his opponents. 

Unfortunately for him though, perhaps his most famous altercation resulted in a broken jaw, a concussion and a night in the hospital for himself after a fight against Aaron Downey in 2003.

Boulerice was also involved in a few different on-ice controversies, albeit outside of his time in Carolina. 

In 1998, when he was in junior hockey, he was charged with assault for swinging his stick violently at another player and in 2007, he was suspended 25 games for a cross-check to the face of Ryan Kesler.

Boulerice retired from hockey in 2011 and settled down in Raleigh. He's a frequent participant in Hurricanes Alumni games and coaches youth hockey in the area.

4. Darren Langdon

121 GP, 216 PIM, 23 fights

Mostly remembered as Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard in the Big Apple where he fought 75 times, including many times against the New Jersey Devils, Langdon did end up in Carolina for a couple of seasons.

Langdon was a big-time enforcer who went toe-to-toe with some of the NHL's biggest and baddest. 

He fought Tie Domi and Stu Grimson each four times and had multiple bouts also with Bob Probert, Craig Berube and even Zdeno Chara.

While not as known for his time in Carolina, he was a big name enforcer and even still, Langdon ranks fourth all time in Hurricanes history for fighting majors. 

5. Tim Conboy

59 GP, 121 PIM, 16 fights

Tim Conboy wasn't a huge part of Hurricanes history, appearing in just 59 games over the span of three seasons, but he was certainly one tough customer.

Conboy was a solid part of the organization during his time, also serving as captain for the Albany River Rats who were the Canes' AHL affiliate at the time

Self-proclaimed as a little bit 'bananas' at times, Conboy was the loose cannon type that teammates loved and opponents dreaded.

He even allegedly bit someone once in a fight

He didn't last long in the NHL, but he was the crazy type of tough that fans certainly loved.

Honorable Mentions

Bob Boughner

The Boogieman wasn't in Carolina long, just 43 games, but he's another one of those bigger name enforcers from back in the day that ended up in Raleigh. He fought 6 times for the Hurricanes.

Kevin Westgarth

Another short lived Cane, Westgarth was a big, bad dude who came really during the tail end of fighting in the NHL. He fought seven times in 43 games in Carolina.

Tom Kostopoulos

He wasn't in Carolina for a long time, but he still managed to earn some favor with his toughness. More of a gritty fourth liner than a pure enforcer, he fought 12 times for the Hurricanes in 99 games and 64 times total in his career.