Ewen vs McClelland

[PandoraJam]

Mar.10th, 1990

Todd Ewen played three years of major junior hockey with the New Westminster Bruins of the Western Hockey League and justly earned the reputation as one of the toughest players in the league. He produced decent offensive numbers in his first two years of junior, but it was quite apparent that his style of play involved playing the role of enforcer. In the first year he had 176 minutes in penalties in 68 games while picking up 24 points. But, it was in his second year that he left little doubt what he was there to do. In 56 games, Ewen racked up 304 minutes in penalties with 31 points.

As a 19-year-old in his final year, Ewen greatly improved on his offensive statistics, scoring 28 goals and 24 assists for 52 points while still not forgetting to visit his friends over in the penalty box, spending 289 minutes in the box.

The Edmonton Oilers drafted Ewen with their eighth pick, 168th overall, in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, but he never did play for the team. Ewen's rights were acquired by the St. Louis Blues in 1986. Ewen appeared in 23 games for the Blues that year, picking up a pair of goals and 84 penalty minutes. The following year he was inserted into the lineup for 64 games and served as the team's main "policeman." He scored four times and had six points with 227 minutes in penalties.

In 1989-90, Ewen was traded to Montreal, a club in need of some added toughness. He remained with the Habs for four years, winning a Stanley Cup ring with their 1993 championship club.

By the start of the 1993-94 campaign, Ewen had been traded to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. His role there was to make sure the opposition did not take any liberties with the team's stars, Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne. That was a career year for Ewen in virtually every category, when he scored nine goals, had nine assists and 18 points, and also 272 minutes in penalties - all NHL career highs.

After three years with the Mighty Ducks, Ewen joined the San Jose Sharks as a free agent in 1996-97, his last season in the NHL.

- VS -

Rugged, tough, fearless. Those are the types of words that come to mind when the name Kevin McClelland is mentioned. Growing up in Oshawa, Ontario McClelland always had the natural scoring talent which was combined with a tough grittiness, often resulting in fisticuffs. At 16 he scored 50 goals and 124 points with the Oshawa Legionaires of the OMHA. In 1979-80 he joined the Niagara Falls Flyers of the OMJHL at the age of 17. He made a strong impression in his rookie season and was selected in the fourth round, 71st overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers. McClelland really became a key contributor in his second year when he had 36 goals and 108 points. He also kept up the feisty part of his game, tabulating 184 minutes in the penalty box. It was a strong Flyers team, which boasted many future NHLers such as; Steve Ludzik, Steve Larmer, Mark Osborne, Pat Graham and Paul Gillis. The team was considered a favourite to win the OMJHL title and advance to the Memorial Cup, but the young upstart Kitchener Rangers, led by such stars as Brian Bellows, Al MacInnis and Scott Stevens had other ideas, taking the Ontario crown.

In 1981-82 McClelland returned for his final year where he was clearly the team leader, both on and off the ice despite playing in just 46 games. His NHL rights had been transferred to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of Hartford's compensation for signing free agent goaltender Greg Millen. McClelland was called up to the Penguins for ten games, and scored a goal and five points. He missed half the next season with a shoulder injury, sustained in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In December, 1983 McClelland was traded to the Edmonton Oilers where he enjoyed the bulk of his success in the NHL, playing on four Stanley Cup championship teams in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The biggest goal of his career came in Game One of the 1984 Stanley Cup finals against the New York Islanders when McClelland scored the game's only marker, giving the club a 1-0 lead in the series. Although it was just one win, it was a major psychological victory for the young Oiler team, which had been bounced in four straight games to those same Islanders in the Cup finals the year before. The Oilers went on to sweep that series, denying New York its fifth consecutive Cup. One dynasty was ended, and another had just begun.

McClelland's presence was a definite asset in the 1995 Stanley Cup finals against the rough and tough Philadelphia Flyers. With Dave Semenko moved on in those later years, McClelland took on an increased role as team policeman in the mid 1980s, which he performed admirably. The Oilers and Flyers met again in the 1987 finals, with the Oilers coming out on top. Edmonton defended its title in 1988, sweeping the Boston Bruins in four straight games.

With the Oilers in financial distress and the team being dismantled and looking to rebuild with younger more inexpensive players, McClelland was shipped off to Detroit in November, 1989. He remained with the Red Wings for a year and then had brief stops in Toronto and Winnipeg. He retired from hockey in 1994-95 while playing for the AHL's Rochester Americans.

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[Blouin]

Nice PJ again!!!

[Bob Probert]

Awesome. Todd Ewen ruled.

[Lead]

Ewen killed him.

[Scott4]

Easy win for Ewen ! Thanx PJ !

[DaleHunter32]

whats everyones opinion on Zambo jumping in on that fight.

A) he did the right thing, you would do the same

B) he did the wrong thing, something you wouldn't have done

i myself still can't decide between the 2

[balboozer]

hi,

can u repost this fight please...thanx

[votingbooth_42]

yup, file expired. I would like a repost pleeeease!

[Milleniumdude]

here's a repost:
http://s25.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...52NM6HU21L8U1Y

[flyersvikes]

Originally Posted by DaleHunter32

whats everyones opinion on Zambo jumping in on that fight.

A) he did the right thing, you would do the same

B) he did the wrong thing, something you wouldn't have done

i myself still can't decide between the 2

i think he absolutely did the right thing, Ewen needed to be stopped.

[eyir]

Thanks for the clip, PJ. Great to have you back.

[balboozer]

Originally Posted by Milleniumdude

here's a repost:
http://s25.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...52NM6HU21L8U1Y

thanx a lot...