Interview: Dody Wood

[Colt Seavers]

The San Jose Sharks made Dody Wood their 3rd-round draft choice in 1991, selecting him 45th overall from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

Dody played 5 seasons for the Sharks, as well as doing stints in the LNAH, IHL, ECHL, The UK, and CHL.

Dody's style of play made him a fan favorite, as well a popular teammate regardless of what league or team he played.

I would like to thank Dody for this great opportunity!

Can you describe your fighting technique-talk about your move, where you go under the left arm of the opponent. Nobody did that move more than you. I think of it as your signature move. When did you start doing it? Did you find it effective? Did you do it to surprise opponents, or just to get free?

I only did it when I felt I had a opponent surprised or off guard, I had to use it to get inside of most guys.

You can really switched hands well. Where did you learn? Any boxing background?

No boxing background, Sergi was a Russian trainer in San Jose that helped me.

In your first NHL season, Warren Rychel elbowed you, and then turtled. That would be interesting to hear you talk about!

I heard alot about him and wanted to prove myself against him, he was smart I guess-in drawing a 5 min penalty.

In your second season, you had a hell of a game against Montreal, beating Brashear, than edged by Chris Murray in a marathon. Anything notable about this?

No one talks about my 3 assists.........but alot of respect for those guys, Brashear slipped and Murray can take and throw a punch.

You were at times on a line of Tim Hunter-Wood-Todd Ewen in 96-97. What are your thoughts on that?

What's there to say not many guys wanted to fight with them so it was easier for me to find a partner!

In 92-93, your first season, Did you pick anything up from any of the veterans that were with the Sharks- Hunter, Ewen, Dave Brown, and Odgers?

Dave Brown was a guy that worked harder than anyone. I didn't really ask him for pointers because we had 2 different styles. But Odgers was a guy I watched. A team player for sure. I really kept things to myself when it came to asking them. But I watched them all the time.

During the 94-95 season, do you remember pushing Joe Murphy onto the San Jose bench(causing a brawl) and then pounding on Patrick Poulin?

Yeah, it was a moment in the game that I needed to step up and do something to make the team. It was decision time in camp and I thought by starting some excitment, it would be a good idea. I never meant to start a brawl though.


Sharks camps must have been tough affairs, with a lot of tough customers. For instance, 95-96 had you, Odgers, Kyte, Jay More, Andrei Nazarov, Dave Brown. Any camp bouts?

Not really, we had a lot of exhibition games to do that!

You went with Odgers in the pre-season. Was that weird, or was it something that had to be done?

I originally didn't fight Odgers. I went after Ray Bourque (I don't know why) and Odgers stepped in and got 3rd man and thrown out. Sorry Jeff I ruined your Shark debut return!

During the 96-97 season, do you remember dropping Grier w/ one punch? and KO'ing Vopat?

Yes, Vopat and I had words all game long and I thought he was ready but maybe not! Same for Grier.


When you were with San Jose, who was your roommate on the road? And your best friend on the team?

Many teammates. My first roomy was Doug Wilson in New York for my 1st game. Mike Rathje, Jeff Friesen, and Sean Donovan also shared.

Who had the best work ethic on the Sharks?

Jeff Odgers

When you were traded to New Jersey, did you feel you would get a chance to make the Devils?

I was sent to Albany and cleared waivers and just didn't get a chance to play for the Devils.

You fought just about everybody in the minors. You fought Steven Fletcher (Fort Wayne) 4x, and Richie Zemlak 4x. Your first bout as a pro was with Daniel Shank. What stands out about the minors?

I wasn't a big guy but had to do whatever I could to get the attention of the scouts. Being in the minors, you are playing for a chance to impress all the teams and everyone always looks to improve there teams. I played with alot of great guys and met alot of great people outside of hockey.

You played in the LNAH. What was that like?

Crazy and by far the toughest league I played in. Not making any excuses for myself. I wasn't ready for what they wanted me to do at that time of my playing career. I only played a few months before going to try player coach.

What was it like fighting big guys like Steve McKenna and Eric Cairns?

I held on until I could get inside!That's all I remember about those guys.

What do you recall about your fight with Probert?

I started it! Right after the game, I bought the picture from a photographer. I called all my buddies and of course I lied and said I won!

Do you have any funny or interesting behind-the-scenes stories from that 96-97 season with McSorley, Hunter, Nazarov, Ewen, and Lipuma?

I have plenty of things, but so do they so I have to plead the 5th on this one!Seriously, it was a fun and mind numbing experience and I laugh when I talked about all the things I saw and all the jokes played on each other.

Have you ever decisively get beat? By who?

Good question, I can say I never got beat badly but I know I lost some. I hope I won more than I lost!

Who did you have respect for? Who didn't you have respect for?

I have respect for anyone that drops the gloves. I didn't show it on the ice, as it was fear of weakness. But I never threw a punch after the linesmen had stepped in to stop the fight. I wouldn't talk to old teammates until after the game in case I had to confront them on the ice. But I always shared a beer after the game!

What was your favorite fight?

My fight with Domi, when he was in Winnipeg.

What are your memories of that fight against Tie during the 94-95 season? There was some serious punches thrown.

Fun, I actually held my own with him. I seen it and he missed with a few upper cuts.

What are your thoughts on the San Jose head coaches you played for?

Everyone of the coaches had there own style and I tried my hardest and would go to battle for any one of them again. Yes even Darryl Sutter, who traded me.

Did you always play the forward position?

Yes except for 1 game in KC. Jim Wiley was coach and I begged him to let me play defense since were shorthanded and it was the last game of the year. I was terrible.


What do you think of today's NHL and what player do you like?
I like it. My favorite player is Ovechkin.

What are you up to these days?

I'm married and living in my home town. I have a 11 year old boy and 16 month twin girls.

I would like to thank Vindigidy and Mike Kole for their contributions. This couldn't have happened without their help!

[canuckfan]

Good stuff, thanks boys!

Sometimes the most entertaining fighters are the smaller ones, and Dody Wood was fun to watch. Shame he couldn't catch on with another NHL team after San Jose, but in his short time in the bigs he had some pretty memorable moments.

His fight with Stojanov was a beauty, and Wood put up a pretty good scrap despite the size difference - but his fights against Scott Walker, Chris Murray, and Ronnie Stern are some of my faves, against guys more his size.

[Mike Kole]

Nice job there RJ! Credit's all yours. You went and found the man.

I especially like his story about the Probert fight and buying a picture from the photographer. That's excellent!

I had no idea Dody had 3 assists in that game where he fought Brashear and Murray. Maybe we can call two fights and three assists the Dody Wood Hat Trick.

Great job, RJ!

[vindigidy]

i agree w/ Mike, RJ, you certainly get all the thanks here. He didn't really give Vopat or Grier much of a chance though, he dropped them both before they knew they were in a fight. Dody stayed pretty tight-lipped about the behind-the-scenes question. Too bad, he probably has some doozies of a story. His fight w/ Domi might very well be my favorite as well.
Thanks RJ

[Walt]

Between the departure of the Stars and the arrival of the Wild, we had a couple of years mid/late 90s with the IHL Minnesota Moose who played at the St. Paul Civic Center. Dody played with Kansas City at the time and he was a really tough guy ... always reminded me of Corson or McRae the way he tied guys up and fought really smart. He used to drive our big guys like Morissete and Brad Miller bonkers because he was so difficult to hit. Always had the long mullet too LOL.