Goon Ranking

Toughness and grit are long sought after traits in professional hockey players. But there is a line in the sand where these sought after characteristics and goonery. Fighting is a controversial though common aspect of ice hockey. The game is well known for its own form of on-ice vigilante justice and the men who enforce the law - the Hockey Goons. Also known as enforcers, toughguys, pugilists and fighters, these players often play the game for their one on one matchups rather than the usual hockey strategies.

The hockey enforcers are typically players of less than star capabilities who generally play on the third or fourth line and see very limited ice team. They often act as protection for star players and typically face off against the opposing team's enforcers.

Over the history of the hockey, thousands of players have made the National Hockey League on the basis of their toughness. They have performed at various levels and some have been more effective as others. This website looks back at some of these great hockey goons and uses basic statistics to create a list of the best tough guys.

Behind the numbers
The basis of this statistical analysis is to evaluate the fighters at what they do best - fight and take penalties. So we started off by penalizing these players for what is not their core competency - goals and assists. The formula we came up with is as follows:

(-1 x Goals x 10) + (-1 x Assist x 5) + (Penalty Minutes) / Career Games

The only requirement is that the player have atlest 1,500 career NHL penalty minutes.

Goon Analysis and Biographies
Player/ Career Games /Goals Assists /Points/ PIM /Goon Stat
Peter Worrell 319 19 27 46 1554 3.85
Shane Churla 488 26 45 71 2301 3.72
Kelly Chase 458 17 36 53 2007 3.62
Mick Vukota 575 17 29 46 2071 3.05
Mike Peluso 458 38 52 90 1951 2.86
Gord Donnelly 554 28 41 69 2069 2.86
Rob Ray 900 40 50 90 3207 2.84
Ken Baumgartner 696 13 41 54 2242 2.74
Tim Hunter 815 62 76 138 3142 2.63
Basil McRae 576 53 83 136 2453 2.62
Todd Ewen 518 36 40 76 1911 2.61
Gino Odjick 605 64 73 137 2567 2.58
Jay Miller 446 40 44 84 1743 2.52
Stu Grimson 729 17 22 39 2113 2.51
Paul Laus 530 14 58 72 1702 2.40
Rich Pilon 631 8 69 77 1745 2.09
Jim Cummins 511 24 36 60 1538 2.19
Chris Nilan 688 110 115 225 3043 1.99
Craig Berube 1054 61 98 159 3129 1.94
Bob McGill 705 17 55 72 1768 1.88
Tie Domi 1020 104 141 245 3515 1.73
Torrie Robertson 442 49 100 149 1751 1.72
Dave Schultz 535 79 121 200 2294 1.68
Joey Kocur 820 80 82 162 2529 1.61
Larry Playfair 688 26 94 120 1812 1.57