Bruise Brothers Book Preview

Former NHL and Red Wings heavyweights Bob Probert and Joey Kocur, along with Bob Duff of the Windsor Star, have a book coming soon. The Bruise Brothers - Hockey’s Heavyweight Champions will be released June 1. Michigan In Play! magazine had a sneak peek at it and was good enough to pass along some exclusive excerpts to hockeyfights.com:

..."Though they are best-known as two of the most dominant heavyweights in NHL history, I would stress first of all that they were both good hockey players,” said Yzerman, who wrote the foreword for the book. “They fought, but they did it the right way. They never jumped a guy. They were always pretty respectful. They knew who the tough guys in the NHL were and they knew each fight was a challenge.”

Kocur, who’s won more Stanley Cups (four) in the past 15 seasons than any NHLer, could also put the puck in the net and displayed his all-around hockey abilities during his second stint with Detroit from 1996-99, when the club rescued him from the oblivion of a Michigan recreational league.

Teamed with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby, they formed one of the league’s most effective checking units, Detroit’s famed Grind Line, helping the team to back-to-back titles in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

“I have to admit, when they told me Joey Kocur was going to be playing on my line, I didn’t know what to expect,’’ Draper said. “I knew he could fight. I found out he could play.”

Added Maltby: “He made our lives a lot easier out there.”

Even those who were often on the receiving end of their blows find it difficult to dislike them. “They were larger-than-life characters,” former St. Louis tough guy Kelly Chase said. “People loved the way they fought.

Tie Domi teamed with Kocur in New York and fought Probert nine times, but simply smiles when their names are brought up in the discussion. “Joe and I were tag-team partners in New York,” Domi said. “He really showed me the ropes.”

As for Probert, his frequent nemesis, Domi is nothing but respectful. “He’s a classy guy,” Domi said. “We’ve been friends, even through all that’s happened between us through the years."…

For the rest of the story and to find out how you can order an advanced copy of “The Bruise Brothers - Hockey’s Heavyweight Champions” go to http://www.michiganinplay.com and turn to page 21 of the April digital issue of the magazine. The archive section of the magazine contains past columns from Bob Probert.

Posted by David M Singer on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:58 AM

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#1 - lee rosenberg from Chicago on Apr 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM

Would like to pre order book but cannot read info on page. do you have It?

Thanks

#2 - David M Singer on Apr 15, 2008 at 06:05 PM

I’m not quite sure what the status with pre-orders are, but once there’s an Amazon link I’ll be posting it.

#3 - Mats Stark from Sweden on Apr 16, 2008 at 03:48 AM

Hello all hockeyfans !
This datum when new book BRUISE BROTHERS written of Bob Probert and Joe Kocur come out for sell are little confusion,I have two datum in this site written June-08 but in michiganinplay written April-08 and in last issue are a link to publisher company there you can pre-order the book,check the sportmagazine michiganinplay this magazine is free,download on internet like PDF-file.I have write a mail to the publisher of the bookcompany there the new book come out but no answer yet !.Now is the big question when come out for sell APRIL OR JUNE-08 ?.

#4 - David M Singer on Apr 16, 2008 at 04:12 AM

Hi Mats, I was informed yesterday the book will come out in June. The magazine was published before that information. As I get any further details I’ll post them.

#5 - Mats Stark from Sweden on Apr 16, 2008 at 01:39 PM

Thank you David !
For the information about updated release date for new book BRUISE BROTHERS from Bob Probert and Joe Kocur,many people,fans all over the hockey intrested world waiting with eagerness.I still not have answer from this publishing bookcompnay I writing mail to publisher/owner where the book come out to the public,but know I understand reason why not hurry reply, it’s come out in June shall be fun to read about their experience,thought and much more in summertime not hockeyseason but I think it’s worth spend some hour to read even if this are middle of summer.Keep us who waiting updated,you seems like a surten source.

#6 - James Goneaux from Toronto, Canada on Apr 18, 2008 at 03:12 PM

Um, have to disagree with the “Kocur, who’s won more Stanley Cups (four) in the past 15 seasons than any NHLer” bit...ever year of Scott Niedermayer?

#7 - David M Singer on Apr 18, 2008 at 03:21 PM

James, they might just mean no one has currently won five; or perhaps it was written before the end of last season and hasn’t been edited. Either way, you might want to send a note to the publisher.