Bigjack: Boston vs NY Rangers 10-1-76 pre-season game Fotiu-O'Reilly

[Schultz]

Bigjack, I believe that this story that I have from The Patriot Ledger(a paper from the South of Boston) dated Oct 2, 1976 is the game that you went to. The only majors given out were to Milbury - Sachuruk. But here's a story about Fotiu that was in the paper:

FOTIU: HE KNOWS HE WAY AROUND RINK AND RING
By Bob Finnigan

A David Goldstein of Brooklyn called the NY Rangers this summer to complain when they signed big Nick Fotiu to a contract. "The kid is a killer" said Goldstein. "He ran into me 12 years ago in a baseball game and broke my collarbone".

When Rangers coach John Feguson heard about the complaint he just smiled and rubbed his hands in gleeful anticipation. Big Nick Fotiu sounded like just the man he had been looking for.

- Since the night last year when Curt Bennett of the Flames knocked out the Rangers Dave Maloney with a sucker punch and not one single New York player went to help his flattened teammate

- Since the 1974 night when Dave Schultz jumped Dale Rolfe from behind and all the Rangers, save goalie Ed Giacomin stood around and watched their friend get beaten up.

Fotiu, the first native New Yorker ever to play for the Rangers and the man who just might have the most impressive fighting credentials in ice hockey, won't stand for any of that.

"If anyone evers tries to hurt one of my teammates, I'll fight him" sain Fotiu, coiling his size-large hands nito fists. "I've been there to help out those guys fast because it was one of my guys in trouble. You just don't let that happen to someone on your team".

"I know why I'm here. Why I'm here has a lot to do with what happened to Maloney and Rolfe. Fergy was a tough guy when he played. He wants me here because I play tough. I've been a policeman before. If anybody wants to fight, I'll fight".

Yes he will. Playing for the Cape Cod Cubs in 1974-75 he totaled 379 penalty minutes, a mark of which even the wicked Schultz would have been proud. The last 2 years he was with the WHA New England Whalers. In 1974-74 he scored 4 points and 144 penalty minutes. In 1975-76 his scoring improved to 5 points but his penalty minutes fell to 94. "I was hurt alot last year" he explained. "I had a tendon severed in a fight. I was down on the ice and someone stepped on my hand."

It was down on Cape Cod that Nick met Leslie McCarthy who is now his wife. She is the daughter of Chief of Police and Mrs Daniel McCarthy of Foxborough and was then an usherette at Cape Cod Colisieum where the Cubs played thier home games.

In his 2 years at Hartford, Fotiu was voted the Most Popular Whaler by the fans. "They liked my style of play." He was appreciated by his teammates too. The first time he ever met Ted Green, NE captain and former Bruin bad man he told him "when I was a Ranger fan as a kid I always wanted to beat you up."

New England let him go earlier this year and the Rangers, who's Emile Francis had put him on the negotiating list years ago snapped him up. He's a natural in the Big Apple. He grew up on Staten Island, played all his amateur hockey in the local Metropolitan League and won the New York City heavyweight championship.

"But I'm not a goon, I'm a hockey player" noted Fotiu, whose position is a steadily improving left wing. "I'm a team player, I'll go into the corner and dig out the puck, I'll backcheck, I'll skate with the best of them and I can score goals."

The Bruins will attest to this last fact. He scored the game winner in a 7-5 win over them, pre-season opener for his team. "I really wondered whether all this was happening to me that night" he laughed. "All my life I've been working to where I am now. I'd like to have been sitting with my buddies to see my first goal."

That's where it all started for Fotiu - in the stands at a Rangers game. "I was 15" he recalled "It was a NY-Philly game in 1968. I Loved it. "I told myself your gonna be a hockey player."

That ambition isn't the easiest for a kid from NYC. There were no rinks on Staten Island. Fotiu road buses and subways to Coney Island and further to play his game. He went to Rod Gilbert's summer hockey school. He went to every Rangers game and rooted as hard as he could for them. He'll doubtlessly play the same way for them.

The New York fans already appreciate his efforts. In that pre-season opener they chanted "We Want Nicky". They wanted him to fight and late in the game it nearly happened.

He and Terry O'Reilly bumped and glowered at each other. Fotiu threw down his gloves and cocked his fists. O'Reilly didn't. "I was ready to go if he was" Fotiu said. "I guess he wasn't ready."



Or was O'Reilly scared? It a meaningless pre-season game and it's at the end of the game. Why didn't O'Reilly fight him? Only Terry knows for sure.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Schultz

Bigjack, I believe that this story that I have from The Patriot Ledger(a paper from the South of Boston) dated Oct 2, 1976 is the game that you went to. The only majors given out were to Milbury - Sachuruk. But here's a story about Fotiu that was in the paper:

FOTIU: HE KNOWS HE WAY AROUND RINK AND RING
By Bob Finnigan

A David Goldstein of Brooklyn called the NY Rangers this summer to complain when they signed big Nick Fotiu to a contract. "The kid is a killer" said Goldstein. "He ran into me 12 years ago in a baseball game and broke my collarbone".

When Rangers coach John Feguson heard about the complaint he just smiled and rubbed his hands in gleeful anticipation. Big Nick Fotiu sounded like just the man he had been looking for.

- Since the night last year when Curt Bennett of the Flames knocked out the Rangers Dave Maloney with a sucker punch and not one single New York player went to help his flattened teammate

- Since the 1974 night when Dave Schultz jumped Dale Rolfe from behind and all the Rangers, save goalie Ed Giacomin stood around and watched their friend get beaten up.

Fotiu, the first native New Yorker ever to play for the Rangers and the man who just might have the most impressive fighting credentials in ice hockey, won't stand for any of that.

"If anyone evers tries to hurt one of my teammates, I'll fight him" sain Fotiu, coiling his size-large hands nito fists. "I've been there to help out those guys fast because it was one of my guys in trouble. You just don't let that happen to someone on your team".

"I know why I'm here. Why I'm here has a lot to do with what happened to Maloney and Rolfe. Fergy was a tough guy when he played. He wants me here because I play tough. I've been a policeman before. If anybody wants to fight, I'll fight".

Yes he will. Playing for the Cape Cod Cubs in 1974-75 he totaled 379 penalty minutes, a mark of which even the wicked Schultz would have been proud. The last 2 years he was with the WHA New England Whalers. In 1974-74 he scored 4 points and 144 penalty minutes. In 1975-76 his scoring improved to 5 points but his penalty minutes fell to 94. "I was hurt alot last year" he explained. "I had a tendon severed in a fight. I was down on the ice and someone stepped on my hand."

It was down on Cape Cod that Nick met Leslie McCarthy who is now his wife. She is the daughter of Chief of Police and Mrs Daniel McCarthy of Foxborough and was then an usherette at Cape Cod Colisieum where the Cubs played thier home games.

In his 2 years at Hartford, Fotiu was voted the Most Popular Whaler by the fans. "They liked my style of play." He was appreciated by his teammates too. The first time he ever met Ted Green, NE captain and former Bruin bad man he told him "when I was a Ranger fan as a kid I always wanted to beat you up."

New England let him go earlier this year and the Rangers, who's Emile Francis had put him on the negotiating list years ago snapped him up. He's a natural in the Big Apple. He grew up on Staten Island, played all his amateur hockey in the local Metropolitan League and won the New York City heavyweight championship.

"But I'm not a goon, I'm a hockey player" noted Fotiu, whose position is a steadily improving left wing. "I'm a team player, I'll go into the corner and dig out the puck, I'll backcheck, I'll skate with the best of them and I can score goals."

The Bruins will attest to this last fact. He scored the game winner in a 7-5 win over them, pre-season opener for his team. "I really wondered whether all this was happening to me that night" he laughed. "All my life I've been working to where I am now. I'd like to have been sitting with my buddies to see my first goal."

That's where it all started for Fotiu - in the stands at a Rangers game. "I was 15" he recalled "It was a NY-Philly game in 1968. I Loved it. "I told myself your gonna be a hockey player."

That ambition isn't the easiest for a kid from NYC. There were no rinks on Staten Island. Fotiu road buses and subways to Coney Island and further to play his game. He went to Rod Gilbert's summer hockey school. He went to every Rangers game and rooted as hard as he could for them. He'll doubtlessly play the same way for them.

The New York fans already appreciate his efforts. In that pre-season opener they chanted "We Want Nicky". They wanted him to fight and late in the game it nearly happened.

He and Terry O'Reilly bumped and glowered at each other. Fotiu threw down his gloves and cocked his fists. O'Reilly didn't. "I was ready to go if he was" Fotiu said. "I guess he wasn't ready."



Or was O'Reilly scared? It a meaningless pre-season game and it's at the end of the game. Why didn't O'Reilly fight him? Only Terry knows for sure.

Yeah that was the game. I still remember Nick throwing one punch and yes it is true that O'Reilly didn't act like the usual super aggressive O'Reilly. Who knows, maybe he had a hangover and didn't feel well! I also wrote that I remember Nicky scoring the game winning goal and he did in his first ever Ranger game as I wrote! Fotiu wanted O'Reilly, O'Reilly didn't want Fotiu!
I've written many times about how Ferguson went after Fotiu in 1976. It was told to me by my late cousin who was Fergie's great buddy and is in Fergie's book! The pounding of Dave Maloney by Curt Bennett caused an enraged Ferguson to contact Fotiu's agent Larry Rauch that night and it began the road of Fotiu to NY!
The other telling sentence is that Fotiu didn't look at himself as a goon or cheapshot player but as a policeman! Frankly I wish that Fotiu was a screwball cheapshot artist like a Knuckles Nilan but he wasn't!
The exact Fotiu quote to Teddy Green was that "I always wanted to kick your ass" but it was close enough!
Thanks Schultz as always, now we need someone to post the Fotiu/Baron incident so we can all watch O'Reilly allow his goalie to get belted and do nothing!
Can you post that clip Schultz?

Thanks!

[srehm1]

Originally Posted by Schultz

Bigjack, I believe that this story that I have from The Patriot Ledger(a paper from the South of Boston) dated Oct 2, 1976 is the game that you went to. The only majors given out were to Milbury - Sachuruk. But here's a story about Fotiu that was in the paper:

FOTIU: HE KNOWS HE WAY AROUND RINK AND RING
By Bob Finnigan

A David Goldstein of Brooklyn called the NY Rangers this summer to complain when they signed big Nick Fotiu to a contract. "The kid is a killer" said Goldstein. "He ran into me 12 years ago in a baseball game and broke my collarbone".

When Rangers coach John Feguson heard about the complaint he just smiled and rubbed his hands in gleeful anticipation. Big Nick Fotiu sounded like just the man he had been looking for.

- Since the night last year when Curt Bennett of the Flames knocked out the Rangers Dave Maloney with a sucker punch and not one single New York player went to help his flattened teammate

- Since the 1974 night when Dave Schultz jumped Dale Rolfe from behind and all the Rangers, save goalie Ed Giacomin stood around and watched their friend get beaten up.

Fotiu, the first native New Yorker ever to play for the Rangers and the man who just might have the most impressive fighting credentials in ice hockey, won't stand for any of that.

"If anyone evers tries to hurt one of my teammates, I'll fight him" sain Fotiu, coiling his size-large hands nito fists. "I've been there to help out those guys fast because it was one of my guys in trouble. You just don't let that happen to someone on your team".

"I know why I'm here. Why I'm here has a lot to do with what happened to Maloney and Rolfe. Fergy was a tough guy when he played. He wants me here because I play tough. I've been a policeman before. If anybody wants to fight, I'll fight".

Yes he will. Playing for the Cape Cod Cubs in 1974-75 he totaled 379 penalty minutes, a mark of which even the wicked Schultz would have been proud. The last 2 years he was with the WHA New England Whalers. In 1974-74 he scored 4 points and 144 penalty minutes. In 1975-76 his scoring improved to 5 points but his penalty minutes fell to 94. "I was hurt alot last year" he explained. "I had a tendon severed in a fight. I was down on the ice and someone stepped on my hand."

It was down on Cape Cod that Nick met Leslie McCarthy who is now his wife. She is the daughter of Chief of Police and Mrs Daniel McCarthy of Foxborough and was then an usherette at Cape Cod Colisieum where the Cubs played thier home games.

In his 2 years at Hartford, Fotiu was voted the Most Popular Whaler by the fans. "They liked my style of play." He was appreciated by his teammates too. The first time he ever met Ted Green, NE captain and former Bruin bad man he told him "when I was a Ranger fan as a kid I always wanted to beat you up."

New England let him go earlier this year and the Rangers, who's Emile Francis had put him on the negotiating list years ago snapped him up. He's a natural in the Big Apple. He grew up on Staten Island, played all his amateur hockey in the local Metropolitan League and won the New York City heavyweight championship.

"But I'm not a goon, I'm a hockey player" noted Fotiu, whose position is a steadily improving left wing. "I'm a team player, I'll go into the corner and dig out the puck, I'll backcheck, I'll skate with the best of them and I can score goals."

The Bruins will attest to this last fact. He scored the game winner in a 7-5 win over them, pre-season opener for his team. "I really wondered whether all this was happening to me that night" he laughed. "All my life I've been working to where I am now. I'd like to have been sitting with my buddies to see my first goal."

That's where it all started for Fotiu - in the stands at a Rangers game. "I was 15" he recalled "It was a NY-Philly game in 1968. I Loved it. "I told myself your gonna be a hockey player."

That ambition isn't the easiest for a kid from NYC. There were no rinks on Staten Island. Fotiu road buses and subways to Coney Island and further to play his game. He went to Rod Gilbert's summer hockey school. He went to every Rangers game and rooted as hard as he could for them. He'll doubtlessly play the same way for them.

The New York fans already appreciate his efforts. In that pre-season opener they chanted "We Want Nicky". They wanted him to fight and late in the game it nearly happened.

He and Terry O'Reilly bumped and glowered at each other. Fotiu threw down his gloves and cocked his fists. O'Reilly didn't. "I was ready to go if he was" Fotiu said. "I guess he wasn't ready."



Or was O'Reilly scared? It a meaningless pre-season game and it's at the end of the game. Why didn't O'Reilly fight him? Only Terry knows for sure.

Great article, Schultz.

The Patriot Ledger is a newspaper that is sold in the counties that are south of Boston, cities/towns like Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, Cape Cod, etc. and is still in print and sold every week (no saturday or sunday papers instead you get a big friday edition). I lived in Quincy, Mass. for a few years and have family all over the south shore so besides the Herald and the Globe we would read the Patriot Ledger for local news.

Awesome article and I love seeing stuff like this. The article is obviously pro-Fotiu and does a good job pumping up a young Fotiu who played minor league hockey for Cape Cod (were they always the Cubs? didn't they become the Codders at some point?)

Also, let's stop with the myths please. This pro-Fotiu article makes no mention of Fotiu one punching O'Reilly. It mentions Fotiu dropping the gloves and cocking back his fist, but O'Reilly would have none of it. Where's the one-punch victory that bigjack was so excited about?

Even Fotiu admits they never went:

He and Terry O'Reilly bumped and glowered at each other. Fotiu threw down his gloves and cocked his fists. O'Reilly didn't. "I was ready to go if he was" Fotiu said. "I guess he wasn't ready."

Fotiu stated they never went. This article is pro-Fotiu and if Fotiu one-punched O'Reilly -- hell yeah it would be in there. Not only that but Nicky does come off a bit goonish challenging O'Reilly late in a preseason game. O'Reilly had a season to get ready for and probably had nothing to gain by fighting this young upstart. Again we'll never know what really happened.

Bigjack -- Is this "incident" better off in the 'how memory can play tricks on you' thread? Because they didn't receive fighting majors and Nicky even stated they didn't go.

Again, Schultz, great article and thanks for digging that one up.

[Johnny Pie]

Bigjack,Schultz
This is exactly what I mean about the Fotiu myth. You PICK OUT what makes
Fotiu sound good and run with it. First you write He 1 PUNCHED Oreilly,then
of course when that is proved in your article not to be true we are back to the same tired everybody is scared of Nick crap. By the way how come you don't talk about his goal scoring abilities. Right in the same article the reporter talks about how Fotiu can score goals and " the bruins can attest to that FACT". Hear we go again he scores 1 goal in an exibition game and this shows what a goal scorer he is. It's right in your article. You get some pro Fotiu buildup article and this is your proof of how Oreilly was 1 punched
sorry I mean afraid to fight big bad Nick. The problem is that is all you have to go on. So go to the tape of people skating away from each other as proof of his toughness because there are NO TAPES OF HIM FIGHTING that proof anything. Lets see according to Fotiu myth followers Probert, Oreilly and
Mcsorley [ you remember when they squared off and Marty didn't want to fight] all were afraid to fight Nick. Combined they have like 750 NHL fights
but they worried about Nicks REP from the WHA. OH! I forgot Schultz and
Gillies too.In Schultz's book he also talks about being nervous [scared] to play
the bruins in Boston. That didn't seem to stop him from fighting all the Bruins.
Fotiu's REP was bigger and scarier than the Bad B'S in Boston ? This guys
big actual fighting moment is that Wilson fight which again is built up to be
a lot more decisive than it really is. I will say it again his Reputation is top
5 . His actual fight card and record is not even top 20.

[battleship25]

Guys....you should cut BJ a little slack , but you're right srehm1... my thread about memory fits perfect here. Def. a pro Fotiu article (re. homer) . As far as the Baron incident ...I have it and it's true. Also I have Semenko doing the same to a B's goalie , and of course Probert wonderful head down HELMET REMOVING charge against Bill Ranford...the B's waited 'till Miller was in the lineup to challenge Probie. That's why they fought ...Miller came up to probie and said " Probie I gotta fight ya !!" It was almost like he was apologizing. This is exactly what Probie told me.... I asked because it looked like Miller was saying something so I had to know. There are many incidents with goalies that go unchallenged...it's not unusual ...I don't know why ......I'll tell you one thing , if Fotiu did something to the BUF goalie he would've been assaulted by Playfair. Again, great article Schultz ...good work as always. You always add tecture to an era gone by...THANK YOU.

[GOON 21]

Originally Posted by Johnny Pie

Bigjack,Schultz
This is exactly what I mean about the Fotiu myth. You PICK OUT what makes
Fotiu sound good and run with it. First you write He 1 PUNCHED Oreilly,then
of course when that is proved in your article not to be true we are back to the same tired everybody is scared of Nick crap. By the way how come you don't talk about his goal scoring abilities. Right in the same article the reporter talks about how Fotiu can score goals and " the bruins can attest to that FACT". Hear we go again he scores 1 goal in an exibition game and this shows what a goal scorer he is. It's right in your article. You get some pro Fotiu buildup article and this is your proof of how Oreilly was 1 punched
sorry I mean afraid to fight big bad Nick. The problem is that is all you have to go on. So go to the tape of people skating away from each other as proof of his toughness because there are NO TAPES OF HIM FIGHTING that proof anything. Lets see according to Fotiu myth followers Probert, Oreilly and
Mcsorley [ you remember when they squared off and Marty didn't want to fight] all were afraid to fight Nick. Combined they have like 750 NHL fights
but they worried about Nicks REP from the WHA. OH! I forgot Schultz and
Gillies too.In Schultz's book he also talks about being nervous [scared] to play
the bruins in Boston. That didn't seem to stop him from fighting all the Bruins.
Fotiu's REP was bigger and scarier than the Bad B'S in Boston ? This guys
big actual fighting moment is that Wilson fight which again is built up to be
a lot more decisive than it really is. I will say it again his Reputation is top
5 . His actual fight card and record is not even top 20.

Johnny Pie I see what your tring to say and agree to a point but i think your going 2 far the other way, Fotiu DID bring some respect to the NYR he was the 1 tough guy who brought respect when he played on the road against tuff teams like Philly (Old Spectrum) Boston and the NY Isles


You have to remember that in the late 70's to early 80s it was different NHL - guys took on non heavies a bit more and also didnt actually fight as much (league leaders maybe had 18-22 fights a year) while in the late 80's -mid 90's league leaders would fight 30-35X a year, it was a different game!


Remember that infamous preseason game with the Flyers in 79 or so, the Flyers had a bunch of thugs in the lineup who had their chance to make a name + take on Fotiu but for whatever reason Cunningham was the guy who fought him 3X, Where was Holmgren? Bridgeman or a young Cochrane? Where were they? - Its a legit question


Is Fotiu a lil guilty of east coast -NY bias? is there some myth (ism) to him? maybe so a lil but to totally discredit Fotiu just based on numbers is a lil silly IMO

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by srehm1

Great article, Schultz.

The Patriot Ledger is a newspaper that is sold in the counties that are south of Boston, cities/towns like Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, Cape Cod, etc. and is still in print and sold every week (no saturday or sunday papers instead you get a big friday edition). I lived in Quincy, Mass. for a few years and have family all over the south shore so besides the Herald and the Globe we would read the Patriot Ledger for local news.

Awesome article and I love seeing stuff like this. The article is obviously pro-Fotiu and does a good job pumping up a young Fotiu who played minor league hockey for Cape Cod (were they always the Cubs? didn't they become the Codders at some point?)

Also, let's stop with the myths please. This pro-Fotiu article makes no mention of Fotiu one punching O'Reilly. It mentions Fotiu dropping the gloves and cocking back his fist, but O'Reilly would have none of it. Where's the one-punch victory that bigjack was so excited about?

Even Fotiu admits they never went:

He and Terry O'Reilly bumped and glowered at each other. Fotiu threw down his gloves and cocked his fists. O'Reilly didn't. "I was ready to go if he was" Fotiu said. "I guess he wasn't ready."

Fotiu stated they never went. This article is pro-Fotiu and if Fotiu one-punched O'Reilly -- hell yeah it would be in there. Not only that but Nicky does come off a bit goonish challenging O'Reilly late in a preseason game. O'Reilly had a season to get ready for and probably had nothing to gain by fighting this young upstart. Again we'll never know what really happened.

Bigjack -- Is this "incident" better off in the 'how memory can play tricks on you' thread? Because they didn't receive fighting majors and Nicky even stated they didn't go.

Again, Schultz, great article and thanks for digging that one up.

Where did I ever write how excited that I was. You made the claim that Fotiu ducked O'Reilly and in reality who ducked who? Show the Baron/Fotiu clip and it shows clearly how O'Reilly did nothing as his goalie was decked into his own net! I was there and saw Fotiu throw a punch and also said he scored the game winner and he did and also said it was Fotiu's first ever game as a Ranger. Why don't you explain how you claim that Fotiu ducked O'Reilly?
Speaking of ducking and Boston. I remember Fotiu going after Cashman and Schmautz also and they wouldn't drop their sticks and held them in front of Fotiu!
Time to admit that your ducking bullsh*t was exposed!

[Johnny Pie]

Goon21
Never did I say Fotiu did not bring respect, never did I say he was not
tough or he was not a good fighter.What I have always had a major problem
with is how he is rated by some as a top 10 or better alltime. His record and
fight card are not close to top 10. The reasoning behind this high rating is
always how everyone ducked Nicky. He scared fighters who by their ACTIONS
proved they were afraid of no one. Even in your reply you question why none
of the Flyer goons went after him in the 79 preseason game. Only this Cunningham. I have been asking Fotiu fans for years with no answer why did
he not go after Hoyda in that game or any game. He watched Hoyda pound
poor EJ 3x inthe Philly brawl the year before.If you watch the tape they
mention Fotiu going wild in street clothes behind the bench.Clearly he starts
the fights with Cunningham ,again you can watch the tape. How come he
never does the same to Hoyda. My problem is Fotiu is always given some kind of credit for not fighting. Maybe if he fought more against top fighters we
would not have to speculate. All I know is in like 60 Nhl fights he loses
to Nystrom, Lane,Wells, Wolfman Jack 2x, Holmgren , Smith, Patterson,
maybe Holt and as a host of other so,so fights . Where are his classic
toe to toe bouts ? His best bouts are Wilson,Coxe,Schoeny,
Holmgren ? That is Top 10 alltime ? I have him rated 21 alltime on my
list that I posted. I do not think that is totally discrediting Nick Fotiu.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

Johnny Pie I see what your tring to say and agree to a point but i think your going 2 far the other way, Fotiu DID bring some respect to the NYR he was the 1 tough guy who brought respect when he played on the road against tuff teams like Philly (Old Spectrum) Boston and the NY Isles


You have to remember that in the late 70's to early 80s it was different NHL - guys took on non heavies a bit more and also didnt actually fight as much (league leaders maybe had 18-22 fights a year) while in the late 80's -mid 90's league leaders would fight 30-35X a year, it was a different game!


Remember that infamous preseason game with the Flyers in 79 or so, the Flyers had a bunch of thugs in the lineup who had their chance to make a name + take on Fotiu but for whatever reason Cunningham was the guy who fought him 3X, Where was Holmgren? Bridgeman or a young Cochrane? Where were they? - Its a legit question


Is Fotiu a lil guilty of east coast -NY bias? is there some myth (ism) to him? maybe so a lil but to totally discredit Fotiu just based on numbers is a lil silly IMO

Fotiu would of never come up if he wasn't accused of ducking O'Reilly! I'm still waiting for someone to post the Baron clip that really makes O'Reilly look bad and while we are at it, post the Cashman clip where Fotiu went for him and Cashman holds his stick in Fotiu's face and wouldn't drop it!
The preseason game was in 1978 and was Fotiu's first game playing for Fred Shero and was a response to the Hoyda mugging of Johnstone at the end of the year before as Fotiu was out and injured hurting his hand the game before punching Dave Shand!
I've always knocked Fotiu here for not being a lunatic nut and too damn honest but I also saw very few challenge him and think about this?
The Rangers outscored the Flyers 28-8 in the 5 game 1979 playoffs winning 4 in a row and yet there were no brawls or mugging acts by Bridgman, Kelly, Holmgren, Wilson, Hoyda etc and why? Fotiu beating the Flyers 5 times that year in fights brought tremendous respect to the Rangers. One goddamn guy playing against all those cheapshot artists and yet the Rangers dominated the 1979 playoffs and no brawls by the Flyers?????
What really made me angry was what was Fotiu's reward for his great 1978/79 year against the Flyers? He was left unprotected in the WHA draft and went back to the Whalers. I know for a fact that he was really hurt by that and was never the same fighter after that. He became a better hockey player scoring 99 points over his next 371 games but he was never the same fighter and also was left alone for the most part!

[srehm1]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

Johnny Pie I see what your tring to say and agree to a point but i think your going 2 far the other way, Fotiu DID bring some respect to the NYR he was the 1 tough guy who brought respect when he played on the road against tuff teams like Philly (Old Spectrum) Boston and the NY Isles


You have to remember that in the late 70's to early 80s it was different NHL - guys took on non heavies a bit more and also didnt actually fight as much (league leaders maybe had 18-22 fights a year) while in the late 80's -mid 90's league leaders would fight 30-35X a year, it was a different game!


Remember that infamous preseason game with the Flyers in 79 or so, the Flyers had a bunch of thugs in the lineup who had their chance to make a name + take on Fotiu but for whatever reason Cunningham was the guy who fought him 3X, Where was Holmgren? Bridgeman or a young Cochrane? Where were they? - Its a legit question


Is Fotiu a lil guilty of east coast -NY bias? is there some myth (ism) to him? maybe so a lil but to totally discredit Fotiu just based on numbers is a lil silly IMO

Good post Goon 21 and I agree with much of what you have to say. It was a different game then because players were tougher overall IMO so you would see legit HW's fight guys who would today go down as "no names". Gillies stated Bobby Paradise was one of the toughest guys he ever fought, but today he's written off as a "pumped up" opponent on Gillies' card.

Fotiu did bring respect no doubt to a rangers team that was not known for toughness during the 70's. Fotiu came in and was an instant deterrent to rough play against the Rangers. The top teams in the league in the 70's used fighting as a tactic to help win games. The Rangers in a way were bullied and Fotiu put an end to that. It had been a long time since the Rangers had any sort of real HW and Fotiu had all the hype coming in from his WHA days.

But I wonder if this is not another one of Fotiu's "mystical" preseason games. Why did Holmgren have to fight Fotiu that day? Why did Bridgman? To be honest with you it looked like a Flyers fighters of the future game if you ask me. Who else were the Flyers going to fight? Fotiu was the only real fighter they had. Holmgren had come into the league with Fotiu and they had already fought once. Bridgman had been in the league since the 75-76 and he came in fighting, so I don't think they really had anything to prove in that preseason game. The preseason is for the young toughs trying to make an impression, not the other way around.

It was Cunningham and Cochrane who were the featured attractions in that game. I don't know why Cochrane didn't go with Fotiu, but Cunningham did. And he looked terrible!!!!! Watch that series again and Cunningham looks nothing like a minor league legend. He had poor balance, seemed overmatched and completely outclassed. Fotiu had his way with him pretty much. The funny thing is, who was Jim Cunningham at that point? He had only played 1 year in the AHL and had 106 pim in 48 games. Before that he played a full year at Michigan state university. So cunningham was nothing special who most likely talked Cochrane into letting him fight Fotiu on the bus ride over. Cunningham didn't begin making his real rep as a fighter until his final 3 years with Maine.

Why not let the young guns test their mettle with Fotiu? So I really don't think The veteran fighters had much to prove, but Fotiu swabbed the deck with Cunningham.

YouTube - Nick Fotiu vs Jim Cunningham 9/26/78

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by battleship25

Guys....you should cut BJ a little slack , but you're right srehm1... my thread about memory fits perfect here. Def. a pro Fotiu article (re. homer) . As far as the Baron incident ...I have it and it's true. Also I have Semenko doing the same to a B's goalie , and of course Probert wonderful head down HELMET REMOVING charge against Bill Ranford...the B's waited 'till Miller was in the lineup to challenge Probie. That's why they fought ...Miller came up to probie and said " Probie I gotta fight ya !!" It was almost like he was apologizing. This is exactly what Probie told me.... I asked because it looked like Miller was saying something so I had to know. There are many incidents with goalies that go unchallenged...it's not unusual ...I don't know why ......I'll tell you one thing , if Fotiu did something to the BUF goalie he would've been assaulted by Playfair. Again, great article Schultz ...good work as always. You always add tecture to an era gone by...THANK YOU.

Can you post the Baron clip in it's totality? It clearly shows O'Reilly saying nothing to Fotiu who had just smoked his goalie. Noone is saying it was a great fight or anything like that but merely shows clearly that O'Reilly was not the guy that I always knew! It was shocking!
As I have written, Fotiu would of never came up if he wasn't accused of ducking Taz. It's like when people tell me that Fotiu never fought Dan Maloney and I saw him in 1978 land a punch to Maloney and ole Dan went for the takedown. Not a true fight per se but is that Fotiu's fault?
It's like the time that he knocked out the Canucks Captain Kevin McCarthy at center ice and Tiger Williams, Curt Fraser, Stan Smyl, Ron Delorme, and Harold Snepsts were all there and watched their Captain get laid out and noone said a word to Fotiu about it. Colin Campbell stood over McCarthy and Harry Neale and Roger Neilson yelled from the bench but none of those guys said boo to Fotiu. Is that his fault?
Fotiu would of never come up if he wasn't called a ducker with O'Reilly!

[srehm1]

Originally Posted by bigjack

Where did I ever write how excited that I was. You made the claim that Fotiu ducked O'Reilly and in reality who ducked who? Show the Baron/Fotiu clip and it shows clearly how O'Reilly did nothing as his goalie was decked into his own net! I was there and saw Fotiu throw a punch and also said he scored the game winner and he did and also said it was Fotiu's first ever game as a Ranger. Why don't you explain how you claim that Fotiu ducked O'Reilly?
Speaking of ducking and Boston. I remember Fotiu going after Cashman and Schmautz also and they wouldn't drop their sticks and held them in front of Fotiu!
Time to admit that your ducking bullsh*t was exposed!

Bigjack -- you missed one of my posts in the O'Reilly thread. I stated in that post that I put the 'who was ducking who' line in there just for you. It was a joke. I said excited because your posts are filled with exclamation points. In the O'Reilly thread post I stated Fotiu never ducked O'Reilly and I believed vice versa. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I knew that by putting that line in my post it would draw you into the discussion for Fotiu. I was trying to build up O'Reilly in the first post by listing his fight cards and how he was only missing Fotiu. Sorry about that. It did get you involved though, but I'm not trying to start an arguement over that. once again sorry for the misunderstanding. I was only trying to spin the discussion Fotiu's way since we were going over several guys from that era at the time. I love your insight and memories and all your first hand knowledge of hockey fighting. I know the number one source of Ny rangers info on this site is bigjack so sorry about the misunderstanding.

[flyersvikes]

Originally Posted by bigjack

Fotiu would of never come up if he wasn't accused of ducking O'Reilly! I'm still waiting for someone to post the Baron clip that really makes O'Reilly look bad and while we are at it, post the Cashman clip where Fotiu went for him and Cashman holds his stick in Fotiu's face and wouldn't drop it!
The preseason game was in 1978 and was Fotiu's first game playing for Fred Shero and was a response to the Hoyda mugging of Johnstone at the end of the year before as Fotiu was out and injured hurting his hand the game before punching Dave Shand!
I've always knocked Fotiu here for not being a lunatic nut and too damn honest but I also saw very few challenge him and think about this?
The Rangers outscored the Flyers 28-8 in the 5 game 1979 playoffs winning 4 in a row and yet there were no brawls or mugging acts by Bridgman, Kelly, Holmgren, Wilson, Hoyda etc and why? Fotiu beating the Flyers 5 times that year in fights brought tremendous respect to the Rangers. One goddamn guy playing against all those cheapshot artists and yet the Rangers dominated the 1979 playoffs and no brawls by the Flyers?????
What really made me angry was what was Fotiu's reward for his great 1978/79 year against the Flyers? He was left unprotected in the WHA draft and went back to the Whalers. I know for a fact that he was really hurt by that and was never the same fighter after that. He became a better hockey player scoring 99 points over his next 371 games but he was never the same fighter and also was left alone for the most part!

It is funny that Anders Hedberg had 2 fights in that series and big Nicky had none. Maybe thats why he was gone?

[Johnny Pie]

Wow Bigjack
So the reason Nick did not go after Hoyda is because he is to damn honest.
The very next game after the mugging a preseason game he fights cunningham 3x but does not go after a fighter [Hoyda]who picked on a none fighter [EJ]and beats him TO A PULP .But that is not because Nick is scared.
Now when Oreilly does not go after Fotiu for pushing Baron, when Fraser,Snepts,Williams and Smyl do nothing for Fotiu hitting Mcarthy,OH forgot
Delorme too that is all because they fear Nick. Also he now has dropped
Dan Maloney and won the 79 playoff series with Philly. Had nothing to do
with Stevenson giving up 26 goals on 110 shots a goal every 4 shots.He
was so awsome that he doesn't even dress for playoff games vs Isles.I guess
just knowing Nick was watching on TV was enough to scare Gillies,Nystrom
etc into losing that series.Come on so far in 2 days I have read from you
Oreilly,Probert,Cashman,Mcsorley,Fraser, Snepsts,Williams etc all backed away
from Nick and he ONE PUNCHED Maloney and Oreilly.

[battleship25]

Originally Posted by bigjack

Can you post the Baron clip in it's totality? It clearly shows O'Reilly saying nothing to Fotiu who had just smoked his goalie. Noone is saying it was a great fight or anything like that but merely shows clearly that O'Reilly was not the guy that I always knew! It was shocking!
As I have written, Fotiu would of never came up if he wasn't accused of ducking Taz. It's like when people tell me that Fotiu never fought Dan Maloney and I saw him in 1978 land a punch to Maloney and ole Dan went for the takedown. Not a true fight per se but is that Fotiu's fault?
It's like the time that he knocked out the Canucks Captain Kevin McCarthy at center ice and Tiger Williams, Curt Fraser, Stan Smyl, Ron Delorme, and Harold Snepsts were all there and watched their Captain get laid out and noone said a word to Fotiu about it. Colin Campbell stood over McCarthy and Harry Neale and Roger Neilson yelled from the bench but none of those guys said boo to Fotiu. Is that his fault?
Fotiu would of never come up if he wasn't called a ducker with O'Reilly!

Sorry BJ, you 've confused me with someone who's more evolved.... I CAN'T POST FROM VHS TO THIS SITE....THAT'S WITCHCRAFT .
I remember the Maloney-Fotiu fight in MSG, saw it live on TV. Nothing fight ,Maloney looked to go for the dump.... something he should've done vs O'Reilly.