2008-09 Kocur Award: TKO or KO of the Year

[Merlin401]

Nominees


Sheldon Souray KOs Craig Weller - January 15, 2009
Weird fight as Souray and Moreau both come after Weller looking to fight him with their gloves dropped. Weller chooses Souray and that was probably a bad decision. A piston pumping series of rights ends with one that knocks Weller woozy and cuts him open badly.
Souray KOs Weller

Eric Godard knocks down Colton Orr - January 28, 2009
Their third of four great fights ends with Godard getting a TKO victory over Colton Orr. Perhaps not as epic as some of the other nominees but it came in the biggest rivalry in the year between two top 5 guys.
Godard TKOs Orr

B.J. Crombeen KOs Derek Dorsett - February 18, 2009
B.J. ended his fight losing streak in a big-way, landing a wild right at the end of a good fight with flyweight Derek Dorsett that rocked his world. Dorsett was down, tried to get up, fell down again, giving Crombeen a KO victory.
Crombeen KOs Dorsett

Wade Belak TKOs Donald Brashear - March 10, 2009
Ah, the epic victory. One moment, Donald Brashear was co-champion with Georges Laraque (possibly the champion, due to Laraque's inactivity. The next he was struggling to pick himself off the ice. The difference? Wade Belak destroyed him with a thunderous left hand (thanks jkidd).
Belak Knocks Down Brashear


My Pick

There were so many TKOs this year, even Patrice Bergeron had one. Most of them were good, run-of-the-mill type knock-downs. The four above represent two sweet KOs, and two important TKOs. Which one wins? The KOs were nice, but between relative fighting no-names. In the stream of time we'll remember one big punch this year: Belak knocking out Brashear.

Previous Winners

2003-04: Matt Johnson KOs Andrew Peters
2005-06: Derek Boogaard KOs Trevor Gillies
2006-07: Colton Orr KOs Todd Fedoruk
2007-08: Daniel Carcillo KOs Krys Barch

[IhateLindros]

Didn't Fedetenko TKO Colby Armstrong?

[caps05]

I went with Belak's KO of Brash. It was the first true one I'd ever seen live.

[jkidd]

The impact... the possible ending of an era with Brash hitting the deck and Laraque no where to be found.

Merls - it was a left hand from Belak that put Brash down, not a right.

[stevecanuck16]

Belak's TKO of Brashear instantly changed a lot of top 10 lists, and certainly made everyone think twice about their placing. It wasn't the coolest looking, but it had the greatest impact.

[Snipes19]

Belak TKO'ing Brashear.

No contest here.

That fight caused lots of talk and electricty (and lots of traffic on this forum). I mean, here's Brashear, one of the league's best fighters, fighting Belak (a guy who is climbing up the ranks real fast) and I don't think anybody expected Brashear to be TKO'd. And then, BAM - he went down. Belak gained a ton of recognition through that fight and is now becoming one of the league's best fighters himself. He dominated this year and TKO'ing Brashear is a huge accomplsihment as a fighter. That was a big deal.

The other TKO's didn't cause near as much "electricity" as the Belak/Brashear fight. Easy choice here.

[Isles4life]

I've gotta agree with the popular choice here. No other punch had as great of an impact on people's opinions of the league's top fighters than Belak sending Brashear to the ice. A great punch with enormous consequences.

[Grittzkey]

Souray.. because belak is the obv one

[BStreetBullies]

Brash/Belak, there was nothing more impressive than watching Brash fold like a chair, impressive.

[marc123]

What about Orr TKO'ing Michael Rupp?

I still went with Belak on Brashear

There was also
Belak on Janssen
Paul Bissonnette on Matt Bradley
Wade Redden on Chris Clark

But they are not very significant.

[zoli]

Probably the most famous will be the Belak KO, but i have to say the Godard TKO over Orr was by far the best punch landed in the whole season. Half of the guys would be hurt after that punch, somehow Orr just got up and continues to create some energy going after Crosby. Impressive.

Also this was the point where Godard finally solved Orr, who gave him trouble in the previous 4 meetings. So my vote goes to the Godard TKO.

[Sukoshi84]

Belak with the TKO on Brash but Shelly putting Weller' light's out is right on the coattail and possibly the most Brutal KO of the year.

[Killah_punk]

Didn't Biz TKO Bradley?

[T800m101]

Originally Posted by Sukoshi84

Belak with the TKO on Brash but Shelly putting Weller' light's out is right on the coattail and possibly the most Brutal KO of the year.

I think you mean Souray.

[bobberino]

Shelly putting Wellers LIGHTS OUT... That was a HAMMER !

HM.
Belak's LEFT changed the top 10 and all that, but I'm going on Pure Destruction.