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Calgary4LIfe · 08-12-2015, 09:19 PM

I went with Tim Hunter - a rather unpopular choice. This videos can help to illustrate why I think so:

1) "The Edmonton Oilers always have an extra man on the ice anytime there is an altercation. As soon as there looks like an altercation, they bring an extra man. They've been doing it for years and they always get away with it."

2) Dave Semenko - dirtiest SOB.

Here is a knee at 00:40

Suckerpunch and kick:

This is what the Flames were up against. The league basically kept allowing things like this to happen. Anti-fighting crowd or not, this happened in hockey. Oilers used this to their advantage. Whenever the Flames got some momentum, out came Semenko and company to beat the Flames down physically.

Without Hunter, I don't think the Flames would have ever had the confidence out on the ice to actually beat them.

I think the rest of the Flames' physical forwards - Pepper, Otto, etc., looked to Hunter. Peplinski was quite a gamer too - he would rarely back down, but he was never a true heavyweight. Hunter came in and instantly changed the dynamic on the team, and finally put an end to the Oilers' dominance.

On top of this, Hunter was a bit of a maverick. IIRC, he was continually one of the fittest Flames. While others would wait for training camp to get into condition, Hunter showed up incredibly fit. I believe only Suter would come to camp (and I am not sure if he did this every time) actually fit. I think it started showing the way for the other players - especially the young guys coming up - what needed to be done in order to stick with the team.

Hunter's courage paved the way for the Flames IMO. I truly believed he often led the Flames in those Battle of Albertas in every sense of the word. I think the rest of team followed Hunter (and Pepper) in every one of those games, much before he was ever captain. I don't think there has ever been a time that a 'goon' has had this much of an effect on a team - even McGrattan's effect 2 years ago is still not comparable (and I think McGrattan was very instrumental in the Flames' culture change).

I think Lanny, Hunter and Pepper were all very, very huge leaders on those 80's era team. Hunter was the absolute warrior rallying the troops, and giving them the confidence to face what I considered the dirtiest and most pugilistic team in the NHL. Teams with McSorely, Brown, Semenko... Hunter went a long ways in ensuring the Flames were ready for those battles.

To this day, I still say that the Flames would not have been a confident enough bunch without Hunter. Lanny led them in the dressing room (with Pepper). Hunter led them on the ice on many nights. I think they would have come together as that great team without Hunter leading the charge, and defending his teammates in an era of hockey that absolutely needed defending from, and showed them why it is so important to take good care of yourself off the ice so you can make an impact on it.

I don't think he will get much in the way of votes with Giordano (who I don't think is undeserving at all of #3 at all either), McCrimmon, and some others. Pepper is my co-favorite. From what I remember hearing, Pepper was very vocal in the room, and was an absolute warrior on the ice as well. Probably my next choice - though I may be picking Hunter for the next 'x' amount of rounds I think.

08-12-2015, 09:19 PM	#14
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I went with Tim Hunter - a rather unpopular choice. This videos can help to illustrate why I think so: 1) "The Edmonton Oilers always have an extra man on the ice anytime there is an altercation. As soon as there looks like an altercation, they bring an extra man. They've been doing it for years and they always get away with it." YouTube Video 2) Dave Semenko - dirtiest SOB. Here is a knee at 00:40 YouTube Video Suckerpunch and kick: YouTube Video This is what the Flames were up against. The league basically kept allowing things like this to happen. Anti-fighting crowd or not, this happened in hockey. Oilers used this to their advantage. Whenever the Flames got some momentum, out came Semenko and company to beat the Flames down physically. Without Hunter, I don't think the Flames would have ever had the confidence out on the ice to actually beat them. I think the rest of the Flames' physical forwards - Pepper, Otto, etc., looked to Hunter. Peplinski was quite a gamer too - he would rarely back down, but he was never a true heavyweight. Hunter came in and instantly changed the dynamic on the team, and finally put an end to the Oilers' dominance. On top of this, Hunter was a bit of a maverick. IIRC, he was continually one of the fittest Flames. While others would wait for training camp to get into condition, Hunter showed up incredibly fit. I believe only Suter would come to camp (and I am not sure if he did this every time) actually fit. I think it started showing the way for the other players - especially the young guys coming up - what needed to be done in order to stick with the team. Hunter's courage paved the way for the Flames IMO. I truly believed he often led the Flames in those Battle of Albertas in every sense of the word. I think the rest of team followed Hunter (and Pepper) in every one of those games, much before he was ever captain. I don't think there has ever been a time that a 'goon' has had this much of an effect on a team - even McGrattan's effect 2 years ago is still not comparable (and I think McGrattan was very instrumental in the Flames' culture change). I think Lanny, Hunter and Pepper were all very, very huge leaders on those 80's era team. Hunter was the absolute warrior rallying the troops, and giving them the confidence to face what I considered the dirtiest and most pugilistic team in the NHL. Teams with McSorely, Brown, Semenko... Hunter went a long ways in ensuring the Flames were ready for those battles. To this day, I still say that the Flames would not have been a confident enough bunch without Hunter. Lanny led them in the dressing room (with Pepper). Hunter led them on the ice on many nights. I think they would have come together as that great team without Hunter leading the charge, and defending his teammates in an era of hockey that absolutely needed defending from, and showed them why it is so important to take good care of yourself off the ice so you can make an impact on it. I don't think he will get much in the way of votes with Giordano (who I don't think is undeserving at all of #3 at all either), McCrimmon, and some others. Pepper is my co-favorite. From what I remember hearing, Pepper was very vocal in the room, and was an absolute warrior on the ice as well. Probably my next choice - though I may be picking Hunter for the next 'x' amount of rounds I think.