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Legal, but Dirty Oct 1, 2009 David M Singer
Early into the preseason Dion Phaneuf leveled Kyle Okposo with a hard, legal check. Okposo needed to be helped off the ice by stretcher. Okposo has been out since with a minor concussion.

Are these legal hits clean hits? Can a legal hit be dirty? That was the question I posed to players and media.
Craig Coxe: In Depth Jun 25, 2009 Mike Kole
Mike Kole sits down with Craig Coxe to explore all parts of his career to find out how he got there, what he enjoyed the most and what, if any, regrets he has about the decisions he's made.
Q & A: Mike Peluso Apr 29, 2009 RJ Jones
Mike Peluso's numbers quickly let you know what type of player he was. In 458 NHL games, Peluso racked up 1,951 penalty minutes and he remains the last player to reach the 400-PIM mark.

A fan favorite in every city he played in, he was also known for having a ton of heart. Many tough guys get the label automatically, but Peluso truly wore his heart on his sleeve. Despite his reputation as a willing enforcer, the most well-known image of Peluso might actually be him crying on the bench while the Devils were minutes away from winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 1995.

RJ Jones had the opportunity to speak with Peluso about his hockey career, how it started, and how it has continued since his playing days ended.
Behind "The Code" Jan 15, 2007 David M Singer
Ross Bernstein is a sports author and hockey fan. After hearing over and over again about "The Code", he decided to ask what it is, and he did just that. Bernstein asked everyone who's ever looked at a hockey stick about fighting in hockey and the code. The end result was The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL, a collection of quotes and opinions from hockey insiders long with Bernstein's thoughts and the lessons he learned while speaking with the experts and viewing the game with a new sense of it's inner workings.
Q & A: Brandon Sugden Oct 9, 2006 David M Singer
When it comes to fighting, Brandon Sugden has done just about everything. He's fought on the ice, off the ice, and even had to fight to get back on to the ice, to... well, fight again.

Three seasons in the OHL led to stints in the ECHL and IHL where he was able to continue playing his style of game. After an incident involving a fan in the ECHL resulted in a life-time suspension Sugden's hockey career was all but over.

Life changes were needed before "Sugar" was able to get back onto the ice and play again, but he's been committed and has played in the AHL full-time for the past three seasons.
Toughness Preview 2006-07 Oct 4, 2006 hockeyfights.com content team
After a short summer the 2006-07 NHL season has arrived. A summer of free agency, training camp cuts and the waiver wire can shake things up plenty. Here's the hockeyfights.com toughness preview to clue you in on who's landed where, who's moved on and which team might become your new favorite.
Q & A: PJ Stock Jul 17, 2006 David M Singer
If you've seen a highlight reel containing hockey fights over the past five years, you've seen PJ Stock. He's the smaller guy throwing without fear of being hit, then smiling afterwards, and skating off waving to the crowd as they're all on their feet.

With a career that included stops exclusively in the northeast, PJ became a fan favorite, if not a cult hero, wherever he played. PJ was old time hockey, all heart, willing to do whatever he had to do to help his team win. He's currently bringing that same spirit into broadcasting. I had the opportunity to ask him about his playing career, and what might be next for the popular personality.
Your Season Isn't Over Jun 14, 2006 John Chandler
Just because the 2005-06 NHL season is almost over doesn't mean that you have to wait until September for a dose of hockey. This season's crop of video games is the best yet and there are more ways to play than ever before. John Chandler helps guide you through the selection process.
Q & A: Jeff Hansen Apr 24, 2006 Patrick Gribben
Jeff Hansen, one of the most popular current players on the Southern Professional Hockey League's Knoxville Ice Bears, recently returned to the team at the end of the 2005-06 season and used his rugged presence to help guide them to the President's Cup Championship. While throwing fists night after night can certainly take its toll, he has the satisfaction of hearing over 3,000 loyal fans in the Knoxville Civic Coliseum scream for him because of his efforts.
Size Up Your Game Mar 3, 2006 P.J. Stock
I fell in love with hockey at a very young age. From what I can remember, my dad used to play with his pals at night and every now and then mom would take us to go see him play. Other women or friends watching would comment on my father's lack of size and skill, but no one would ever comment on my dad's work ethic. My father never played in the NHL, but it wasn't his heart that kept him from getting as close as he could possibly get... it was he frame of 5' 5'' (at best).

Growing up my parents prepared me for the comments that others make in jest regarding one's physical stature, too bad they never warned me about the people that would make fun of me for having the biggest teeth in Montreal. Coming from a family where everything was cured by laughter, I was prepared for the onslaught of verbal abuse that I would receive later in life and know how to handle it. The "big teeth" and awkward "pimple" stage was a little tough, but I got through it. The "he's a smurf and you take him on your team" stage wasn't that bad either. The "this kid will never play anywhere" stage was the one that got me going.
New Rules Taking Grit Out of Game Dec 23, 2005 Brent Severyn
Remember way back to 2003-04 with the trap that led to the clutching and grabbing making end-to-end rushes scarce? Goal scoring became as tough as pulling teeth. While true, isn’t that gritty, hard nose attitude an aspect of our sport which makes it unique? Getting to the goal, losing a couple of teeth in the process, then having blood streaming down your face as you raise your hands after a goal – now that’s hockey!

Courage and an unyielding determination to get to the net has been basic hockey philosophy for generations. It is the edge that every player must have to score goals. “Get dirty” our coaches used to tell us. This attitude has made hockey a great game until recent rule changes have inadvertently taken away this aspect of the game.
Toughness Preview 2005-06 Oct 7, 2005 hockeyfights.com content team
NHL hockey has returned. After an entire season wiped out due to the lockout, fans are returning to the teams they love. Those teams are loaded with new faces and those new faces are prepared to take on new opponents. Forget taking a guess at rankings for the moment, it's time to settle in and just see who is playing where. Transaction lists for two summers can be a blur, so here's your hockeyfights.com toughness preview, summarizing where your favorite gritty players are playing now and what to expect from your favorite team.
Q & A: Troy Crowder Mar 23, 2005 David M Singer
Troy Crowder went into the NHL with a well-earned reputation. Crowder was as tough as they come during his juniors years. He made an immediate impact during his first full-season in the NHL bloodying legendary tough guy Bob Probert and then going on to put down many other challengers. The hockey world was abuzz about the new heavyweight on the scene and the anticipated rematch with Probert.

After a solid first season in the NHL, Crowder caught an injury bug he was never able to shake. Leading a list of “what ifs” is what sort of career Crowder would have had if not for being hurt early in his career. Forced into long rehab stints and early retirement, Crowder has taken everything he's absorbed on the sidelines and set up a summer hockey camp for kids to pass along his knowledge.
Q & A: Tim Hunter Feb 10, 2005 Martin DesRosiers
In an era of giants and one-armed fighters came Tim Hunter. He was not the tallest, nor the biggest, but one of the strongest and most likely the best conditioned of his breed. He was the best technical fighter in his era and arguably the best technical fighter of all-time. Hunter used the cross-grab technique to perfection and used his stamina and strength to his advantage. He possessed a stiff punch, a solid chin, and exceptional balance.

Hunter forged a 17-year career in the NHL in which he is one of only nine men in history to accumulate over 3000 penalty minutes and one of few to near 200 fighting majors. He helped his team to three Stanley Cup Finals and one Championship, all the while providing a unique blend of toughness, intimidation and a fabulous fighting record. Since retiring as a player, Hunter has gone on to impart his knowledge of the game to other players, ensuring that his legacy will live on.
Q & A: Sasha Lakovic Jan 21, 2005 David M Singer
Sasha Lakovic grew up in East Vancouver with dreams of becoming a star hockey player in the NHL. When he finally arrived in “The Show” in 1996 with the Calgary Flames, it was only after a long and winding road through numerous leagues and the unexpected role of being a fighter.

Though his NHL career proved to be a short one, he captured fans' imagination while playing for an incredible 21 professional teams during his career. His passion for hockey, approachableness, and obvious love for the fans still captures the attention and adoration of us today.