Pro hockey hit its nadir in the 1976 WHA Playoffs when Calgary Cowboys thug Rick Jodzio assaulted Marc Tardif, nearly killing the Nordiques superstar. As Tardif lay motionless on the ice, the two teams squared off in an epic battle royal. This is the only known footage of this brawl, apparently captured on home video (the actaul assault was never captured). Key points are Gordie Gallant kneeing Warren Miller in plain sight of the police while Charles Constantin and Peter Driscoll throw haymakers. Tardif was severely injured suffering numerous brain contusions. Jodzio pleas guilty in court to causing bodily harm.
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I remember this. Tardif was never the same afterwards.
Posted by: JD | December 28, 2007 at 10:58 PM