Boogard brothers host fighting camp

[Free Candy]

If your wondering why this isn't in NPR it;s because Aaron Boogard is a Penguin but anyway....

I didn't know what to think when I first found this out. All I could do is laugh. At a time when the NHL is trying to demote fighting, I was surprised to see that 2 NHLers would start a fighting camp. Not to anyone's surprise, the camp received heavy criticism. The Boogards claim they weren't promoting kids to fight, just teaching them how to defend themselves.

Good Idea or Bad Idea?


By the way, is Aaron supposed to be as big of a fighter as his older brother, Derek?

[The U]

He's a few inches shorter than his brother. I think the Pens want him to supplant Laraque in a year or two as the pens "enforcer". Beyond that I dont know much about him.

I know tough guys practice fighting "balance, grabbing, etc.." on the ice but I've never heard of a full fledged camp before. Thats pretty funny. Hey, if he's putting on a camp with his brother (who's the best fighter in the NHL by a mile) he has to be pretty good at fighting. Hopefully he plays with a mean streak too.

[pcm]

who's the best fighter in the NHL by a mile

You mean since Laraque retired from fighting, right?

[gruntov]

He's a few inches shorter than his brother. I think the Pens want him to supplant Laraque in a year or two as the pens "enforcer". Beyond that I dont know much about him.

I know tough guys practice fighting "balance, grabbing, etc.." on the ice but I've never heard of a full fledged camp before. Thats pretty funny. Hey, if he's putting on a camp with his brother (who's the best fighter in the NHL by a mile) he has to be pretty good at fighting. Hopefully he plays with a mean streak too.

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I thought that the last time that they danced, that Big George kicked his 6'7 ARSE.

In fact, I'm unaware of ANYONE in the NHL, who has kicked Big George's ARSE, at least in the last several years minimum.

If I'm wrong-plz let me know. You Tube of it would be greatly appreciated!

I agree with you that young Boo is the enforcer in training /waiting in WB. RS has to cut corners somewhere to pay the stars. Hopefully, he can fill those big shoes!

[The U]

who's the best fighter in the NHL by a mile

You mean since Laraque retired from fighting, right?

I'll rephrase that by saying he's the "best enforcer in the NHL by a mile". I think I've seen YouTube video of Laraque beating Boogard, so technically Laraque may be better at fighting BUT, and it's a HUGE BUT.....Boogard is mean and nasty and goes after people. Laraque is too obsessed with the "code" of fighting. He doesnt go after people and try to punish people for messing with his teammates. Boogard does that. If you're on the Senators and you're gonna run Crosby's face into the glass or elbow Malkin in the head Laraque's presence will not deter you from doing that because he wont come after you. He'll go after your enforcer because he follows "the NHL enforcers code" to a t. Boogard on the other hand (like Worrell, Bertuzzi, Oliwa, etc...and like what Souray did last season to Armstrong) will chase you all over the ice and tackle you to make you pay.

So, while I like Laraque, I think Boogard is the better enforcer....by a mile. Because he makes the opponent think twice. Laraque only fights other enforcers, it's unfortunate, if he had more of a nasty/mean streak he'd be awesome. I think he used to have one back in his early NHL days. Maybe Shero and MT can have a long talk with him, but nastiness and playing with an "edge" is something that has to come from within 9 times out of 10.

[gruntov]

No arguement with you on that.

I think that you spelled out the distinction between fighter and enforcer very well!

[eastonpensfan]

At a time when the NHL is trying to demote fighting, I was surprised to see that 2 NHLers would start a fighting camp.

A correction here...

Derek is an NHLer, however Aaron has yet to play even in an AHL game. He has a while to go before he is an NHLer.

[emptyfriend]

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... rd&search=

Hey Ogie, what was it like watching the real fights back in the day when the players didn't wear helmets?

[eastonpensfan]

I watched the top 5 on youtube of Boogaard. I would only give him one clean win (vs. Lynch). McLaren lost his balance before they even got going. The other 3 seemed like they were draws, at best.

In the AHL this year, he's going to face experienced goons, like Vandermeer, Koci, etc. He's going to get whipped if he fights like he did in those videos.