Bruise Brothers

Was there a more feared one-two punch in the the NHL than the days when Bob Probert and Joey Kocur protected the Detroit Red Wings?

I recently read an interview with Donald Brashear describing what it was like to take on Joey Kocur in a fight:

"Kocur was hitting me in the helmet like a power hammer and in the end the helmet split! I remember the next day I had a terrible pain, my gums on the left side of my head were hurting even though he was hitting me on the right side of my face. I couldn't chew anything. I wonder what it would be if I did not have a helmet? Too scary."

If that wasn't scary enough, you also faced the prospect of having to square off against the bigger Bob Probert.

"Probie was the epitome of a tough guy,'' said the very respectful Peter Worrell. "He had a long career. I'm glad I'm not him. If you were waiting to prove yourself as a tough guy, you had to prove it with Probie."

Read the full Bob Probert and Joey Kocur biographies.