15 Most Iconic Hockey Fights Moments in History

Date: February 4, 1994

Dated 29 years ago, the two hockey titans enforcing the hockey world squared off in the third period during the game. It was a doozy, basically a bar knuckle boxing match on ice. 

It is considered the longest fight in the modern era of the NHL, with these two heavyweights battling for more than 90 seconds before the officials built up their nerve enough to get involved.

Initially, they both had a good grip and the punches were coming up a tad short from each to start it off.

Probert began throwing some uppercuts and Marty caught him with a nice overhand right. He then landed a beauty of an uppercut that snapped McSorley’s head back. 

Later near the end period, McSorley then landed a good right hand-Probert answered back! behind the Pittsburgh net. They became wrapped up. The linesmen finally got in to end it.

Date: November 11, 1985

The rivalry between Bob Probert and Craig Coxe was one of the fiercest and most entertaining in NHL history.

This fight, during a Detroit Red Wings vs. Vancouver Canucks game, is considered one of the most brutal in NHL history as both fighters last 40 seconds of hard-hitting thumping.

Probert, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound powerhouse known for his devastating punches, unleashed his fury on Coxe, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound tough guy himself.

The fight was a whirlwind of haymakers, with Probert landing several brutal blows that left Coxe bloodied and dazed.

Date: February 11, 2003

Aaron Downey and Jesse Boulerice were both enforcers for their respective teams, the Dallas Stars and the Carolina Hurricanes.

They faced off in a brutal war on the ice, which ended with Downey knocking out Boulerice with a single punch.

Boulerice suffered a mild concussion and a broken jaw, while Downey became a legend among hockey fans.

This might be one of the shortest NHL fights of all time that resulted in a KO.

One punch is all it took to make this fight one of the most memorable.

Date: January 5, 2002

The 30 seconds this fight lasts as crazy and intense seeing how Stock and Peat were still standing is a mystery to the fans.

The two fighters initially shoved each other, waiting for the play to go further up the ice before dropping the gloves.

Stock launched a right jab and then a right cross. Peat responded with a series of rapid-fire punches: Stock with the left; Peat with the right.

Both fighters continued to trade punches, switching hands frequently changing hands. Stock threw two rights to the back of Peat's head, followed by seven straight lefts. 

After a brief fistfight, the linesman intervened to break up the altercation between the two.

Date: November 20, 1986

This was a vicious clash of two bitter rivals that remains one of the most infamous brawls in NHL history fueled by years of bad blood and on-ice tension.

It stemmed from a series of on-ice incidents throughout the game, including a high stick by Canadiens defenseman Chris Nilan on Boston Bruins forward Rick Middleton.

The fight quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl, with players from both teams throwing punches on the ice.

The brawl spilled over the penalty box and into the hallway leading to the dressing rooms.

It resulted in a combined 221 penalty minutes and suspensions for several players, including Nilan and Lemieux, which remains one of the fiercest in the NHL.

Date: May 21, 1978

The legendary hockey fight took place on May 21, 1978, during the first period of a regular-season game between the Canadiens and the Bruins.

The fight further fueled the intense rivalry between the Canadiens and the Bruins, which was already a hotbed of passion in the 1970s.

Both players were known for their toughness and willingness to drop the gloves, making the fight highly anticipated.

Jonathan and Bouchard traded powerful punches and displayed impressive grappling techniques. 

The fight is most remembered for Jonathan's devastating left hook that caught Bouchard high around the eye, effectively knocking him out.

Date: February 9, 1992

Tie Domi and Bob Probert were known for their incredible toughness, willingness to fight, and iconic rivalries.

Domi was known for his technical, precision fighting. Probert, on the other hand, was a more aggressive brawler.

The two famously clashed on several occasions, with the most memorable encounter occurring on February 9, 1992.

The fight, was a brutal display of heavy punches and grappling, which ended with Domi landing a clean right hook and sending Probert to the ice.

Although a single fight doesn't define a rivalry, it solidified Domi's reputation as a technical counter to Probert's raw power.

Date: February 19, 1978

During the game between the NY Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers, the legendary brawl between Bob Nystrom and Mel Bridgman occurred. 

It was a clash of titans in the 1978 NHL season, a moment etched in hockey history for its intensity and raw energy.

Nystrom and Bridgman, both known for their toughness, dropped the gloves and engaged in a vicious fight.

Punches flew, grappling ensued, and the two heavyweights locked horns in a display of pure hockey grit.

Both players received penalties. It further fueled the Islanders-Flyers rivalry and cemented Nystrom and Bridgman's reputations as fearless warriors on the ice.

Date: December 8, 2001

The infamous Calgary Flames vs. Anaheim Mighty Ducks brawl of December 8, 2001, went down in NHL history as a chaotic and record-breaking affair.

It was a clash of two teams fueled by frustration and bad blood, culminating in a wild brawl that redefined "penalty minutes."

The fight was so intense and prolonged that it set a new NHL record for penalty minutes in a single game.

A staggering 309 penalty minutes were handed out, with players racking up misconducts and fighting majors at an alarming rate

The brawl resulted in suspensions for several players and coaches, including Berube, Nichol, and Giguere.

Date: March 26, 1997

The Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche fight in 1997 was a series of brawls and on-ice incidents that spanned throughout the season, in a chaotic night at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

This event, nicknamed "Bloody Wednesday," "Fight Night at the Joe," and "Brawl in Hockeytown," is etched in NHL history as one of the most intense rivalries of the era.

Minor scuffles and fights broke out between players on both sides before the fight began. The referees struggled to maintain control, and the penalty minutes piled up.

The main event of the night was the fight in the third period where Darren McCarty, the Red Wings' enforcer, finally got his hands on Lemieux. The two engaged in a brutal brawl, with McCarty landing several devastating punches that sent Lemieux to the ice.

The brawl resulted in a combined 18 fighting majors and 144 penalty minutes. The NHL charged hefty fines and suspensions on several players.

Date: November 10, 1996

The iconic Felix Potvin vs. Ron Hextall clash is etched in NHL history, not just for its intensity and violence, but for the fierce Philadelphia Flyers-Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry.

First, Hextall, the hot-headed Flyers goalie, took exception to a shove from Leafs forward Kenny Wregget, leading to a scrum around the net.

Potvin, the Leafs' young goalie, surprisingly came out of his crease and challenged Hextall to a fight.

The two goalies traded punches and grappled wildly. Potvin, surprisingly, landed several solid blows to Hextall's head, sending the Flyers' veteran reeling.

The fight eventually broken up, but the damage was done. Hextall, visibly shaken, received a game misconduct penalty for instigating the fight. Potvin earned a penalty for leaving the crease.

Date: February 19, 1984

The fight between Jamie Macoun and Ron Delorme is considered one of the most brutal and intense brawls in NHL history.

It took place on February 19, 1984, during a regular-season game between the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks.

During the second period, Delorme delivered a check to Macoun along the boards. Macoun retaliated by shoving Delorme, and both players immediately dropped their gloves.

Macoun and Delorme went toe-to-toe with a series of unrelenting punches with both players not attempting to block, simply throwing heavy blows to each other's heads and bodies.

The fight lasted for what seemed like an eternity, with both players absorbing and delivering devastating punches.

Macoun suffered a broken jaw and required surgery, while Delorme sustained a concussion and several facial cuts.

Both players received penalties and suspensions.

Date: May 17, 1993

Mc Sorley and Clark got into a brawl at the LA Kings vs. Maple Leafs game on May 17, 1993.

First, McSorley got Gilmour to challenge Clark directly, which resulted in a toe-to-toe struggle over rights.

Later, Clark's jersey comes off and Marty throws four rights to the back of his head.

Before the linesmen intervened, McSorley received a few more rights in response to Clark's right.

Clark was given an instigator and game misconduct as a result, and McSorley was given an elbowing major.

Date: April 12, 1996

The George McPhee Vs Rick Tocchet fight in 1996 is notable for several reasons and is one of the 15 heavyweight NHL fights.

It occurred during Game 6 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, with the New York Rangers facing off against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The fight occurred late in the third period, with 4:35 remaining in the game. At this point, the score was tied 3-3. 

George McPhee from Rangers engaged in a fight with Rick Tocchet, a player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of McPhee's three fights in the NHL.

It involved both fighters trading numerous punches, with Tocchet appearing to have the upper hand at one point.