Harold Ballard on Picking Tie Domi: Tiger was my idol

At the 1988 draft at the Montreal Forum, Toronto used its second choice, 27th overall, on the squat winger from the Peterboro Petes. Not only could he score, he’d run up a near flawless fight record in the Ontario Hockey League. Known by his given name — Tahir — in those days and nicknamed The Albanian Assassin, Tie Domi would become the Leafs’ penalty-minute leader and a fan favourite.

Harold Ballard was in charge of the Leafs in those days and the crusty owner didn’t pull any punches himself. Upon seeing the mullet of Scott Pearson, the forward the Leafs took sixth-overall ahead of Domi, Ballard snapped that the youngster ought to get a haircut.