Working The Red Line EP.3

When NHL enforcers are brought up and the list of players begins, you don’t have to go very far before Tie Domi is brought up. It helps that he played over 1000 games and finds himself 3rd in all time penalty minutes, but it's more about the person and persona that Domi had allowing him to be one of the best heavyweights the NHL had ever seen. 

Domi was born and raised in Windsor Ontario, a hard working car manufacturing town. He was drafted in the 7th round by the Peterborough Petes in the 1986 OHL draft. 

Domi racked up over 3500 PIMs, many which came by way of a fighting major. In his first full season in the OHL he accounted for 43 points in 60 games, but a glaring 292 PIMs. This was enough to get him selected as the 27th overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Domi would play just 2 games for the Leafs before he was shipped to Broadway to play for the Rangers. Domi began his full NHL career in 1991 where he played 42 games capturing 6 points and 246 PIMs. It was here in New York where he became a true NHL enforcer. 

Domi embraced the New York lifestyle, finding himself comfortable at many places where celebrities appear like the China Club. Whether it was Mario Lemieux or Mark Messier or even the likes of Mike Tyson or Mark Wahlberg, Domi found himself alongside many celebrities in New York which only grew his fame.

He was shipped off to Winnipeg for a few years before returning back to Toronto where he would spend the rest of his career. It was here where Domi most famously made his mark. A game in Philadelphia in 2001 got out of hand quickly.

Luke Richardson had stapled Darcy Tucker to the boards and Domi attempted to fight Richardson but was forced into the box before the two could dance. Philly fans as known are relentless and Domi was an easy target. Naturally fans were throwing stuff and yelling at Domi, so Domi being who he was decided to spray some gatorade at the fan. This only made things worse as the fan - Chris Falcone, had broken the glass and fell into the box instigating a fight. Domi describes the situation as Falcone starting the push and punch linesman Kevin Collins. Many enforcers have strong relationships with linesmen as they find themselves at the bottom of the fight pile often. It's a big respect thing and Domi didn't appreciate Collins getting the brunt of his fans' anger. Domi landed a few punches and Falcone needed stitches. The best part of the story is that Domi still had to serve his 2 min penalty even with the glass panel being completely off of the penalty box.

Domi was one of the most respected fighters of the 90s. Fights with guys like Bob Probert, Rob Ray, Eric Cairns and Chris Neil, showed that Domi fought with the best of them. It was likely his fight vs Eric Cairns that was the best win of his career. Cairns was huge, nearly 6 inches and 20 pounds heavier than the smaller Domi. Domi and Cairns squared off in front of the Islanders net. The two traded a handful of punches before being spun around, in what would likely end most fights, the two kept going and it only took a few more punches from Domi before he scored the takedown on the much bigger Cairns. There weren't many bad fights that Domi was a part of, but this one may be his best win. Check it out below 

Domi vs Cairns

That will do it for EP.3, Domi was a great research subject and a guy who obviously still makes news in today's game with his son Max being a key piece for his Dads former team in Toronto. I'm thinking for Ep.5 being a somewhat milestone I will do a breakdown of a line brawl, but Ep 4 still needs to be done, and what better guy to do than the King of Kings in Bob Probert.