A good ol' hockey fight relived

By Josie Lemieux Sports Central Columnist

It all exploded when the bell rang the end of the second period at the Montreal Forum. Another rivalry playoff. With a crucial Game 6 needed to be won, frustration by both teams concerned many aspects: terrible referee calls, hatred fuelled by the media and fans (reporters even fought in press rooms), it had to explode.

As the players jumped on Dale Hunter as he was pushing the Habs' Guy Carbonneau on the ice, everyone seemed awed by what was seen on TV. I was 16 at the time, but I remember that I was not fearing for the Nordiques being punched, it was worse -- I was certain that someone was going to die.

My family was half-Habs, half-Nordiques, and completely hysterical -- even the goalies were fighting, top scorers like Guy Lafleur, Peter Stastny, and goons like Chris Nilan and Louis Sleigher punched everyone in their path. The crowd at the Forum found it amusing at the beginning, but it lasted. And lasted. Amusement turned to awe and panic. Commentators were speechless.

Referee Bruce Hood lost control that night, giving 198 penalty minutes and 10 game misconducts. I hated hockey that night. Chris Nilan had to be crucified, Dale Hunter had to be killed. I hated that night. Others adored it. Even today, we still ask ourselves who started it.

Was it Dale Hunter's fault because he pushed Guy Carbonneau on the ice, as the second period was over? Or the Habs' Chris Nilan, who randomly picked the Nords' Randy Moller from the crowd of players and started punching? Or the Habs Mario Tremblay, who broke Peter Stastny's nose? Or Habs goalie Richard Sevigny, who savagely fought with Nords' goalie Clint Malarchuk? Or maybe it is the Nordiques' Louis Sleigher, who laid down Jean Hamel as Mario Tremblay told Hamel to stop fighting? Hamel fell on the ice after Sleigher's brutal punch in the face and was knocked-out. Doctors had to check on him immediately and he left half-conscious.

The Nords' coach, Michel Bergeron, assured "the Habs were following somebody's orders." The Habs coach at the time was Jacques Lemaire, presently in playoffs with the Minnesota Wild. He stated that "the Nordiques were trying to eliminate Habs defensemen." On the ice, all you could see were sticks, gloves, helmets, jerseys, and blood.

After one hour of gruesome violence where no player really exited until it was all over, players were back in their locker rooms, preparing to go to a... third period? The game was not won, and with a period to go, the Nordiques were facing elimination. Fans, commentators, and reporters held their breath as the players got back for the last round. The biggest mistake at the time was to allow all players to come back on the ice.

As the announcer started to read an incredible list of penalties and game misconducts, coaches burst in fury as their top-scorers were suspended and the fight started again. Believe it or not, 250 penalty/misconduct minutes were given in total, and it was referee Bruce Hood's last game (he retired immediately due to NHL pressure). In the crowd, no one dared to move or think. Could this game be stopped?

The Habs finally got through the third period and eliminated the Nordiques that night, 5-3. The game was rightfully named the Game of Shame. And the hatred continued. Through the fans, the media, and the teams.

Last week, former players arrived in Montreal on April 18th and would also skate at the Quebec Pepsi Coliseum the day after. 12,000 fans in each city paid $12-$100 dollars for a ticket. Just to name a few players I met that night in their locker rooms, impatient to go back on the ice: Guy Lafleur, Steve Shutt, Larry Robinson, goalie Steve Penney, and goon Chris Nilan.

As for the Nordiques, brothers Peter and Anton Statsny, Michel Goulet, Dale Hunter, goalie Daniel Bouchard, and the tough Pat Price were ready to roll.

The atmosphere at the Bell Centre will always be different than the one we find at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City. However, the Canadiens were welcomed as heroes in Montreal (Guy Lafleur, Larry Robinson, and Chris Nilan being the crowd's favorites), while in Quebec, Michel Goulet, Peter Statsny, and Dale Hunter received the biggest ovations.

At the Bell Centre, Lafleur is outstanding and a loud "Guy, Guy, Guy" is heard every time he touches the puck. Chris Nilan plays with the crowd like a child. Retired referee Ron Fournier gives his traditional appearance. The old Habs and Nordiques jerseys, a mix of red, white, and blue, made us feel like the Bell Centre didn't exist. We were at the Forum. Although a boring ambiance (the Bell Centre is known for it), players showed high-energy and the Nordiques won this first game, 9-5.

The Pepsi Coliseum is old and the heat is unbearable. But the atmosphere is at its peak (as usual). We can hear the "Go Nordiques, Go" all though the game. The companionship between the two teams is sincere and Guy Lafleur switched his Habs jersey for the Nordiques' at the beginning of the third period, the announcer stating that "he has been traded" just like in real life (in 1989). It's was an amazing thing to watch.

The Habs got their revenge by winning in Quebec, 5-2. Many players found that even if the age gets you, the natural hockey basics are unforgettable. They are a little fat, the hair turned gray, most of them asked for ice bags to heal the pain, but their smile and pride said it all.

Why did violence disappear? First, hatred became respect and second, players lost the legs and fists they had 20 years ago. Third, the Nordiques are gone. Even the Habs miss the Nords for the sake of rivalry! They all came back to make us feel the energy of a Nordiques/Habs game. Fortunately, they did not cherish what happened that fateful night.

To be honest, I just couldn't miss those games. During those two days, the Good Friday Fight will have been remembered, but not relived. It is important to mention that despite the violence of April 20th, 1984, hockey did not really change. Thankfully, and for the sake of the sport, the former players did.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.