Marc Tardif was hockey's top left wing in the 1970s and one of the WHA's top 2-3 all-time players.
Tardif began his professional hockey career in the standard way. He was drafted second overall by Montreal in 1969, the last year the Canadiens could draft the first two French-Canadians available, and then he played for the Junior Canadiens in the OHL. He played most of his first four pro years with the Montreal Canadiens from 1969 to 1973, developing into a true goal-scorer Habs fans were starting to admire.
But in June 1973 he stunned the team by signing a three-year, $350,000 contract with the Los Angeles Sharks of the two-year-old World Hockey Association. This represented an enormous increase over the $40,000 he had made with Montreal the previous season.
It was in the WHA that he played the prime six years of his life, joining the Quebec Nordiques midway through the following season and becoming a provincial hero for all French-Canadians in Quebec. In 1975-76 he signed an unprecedented 10-year contract with the Nordiques, then went out and led the league in goals, assists and points. But in the playoffs he suffered a horrific injury in a game against the Calgary Cowboys. He was charged from behind by Rick Jodzio, who hammered Tardif in the chest and head area with his stick. Tardif fell to the ice unconscious, but Jodzio jumped on top of him and continued to punch him violently.
Tardif suffered extensive damage to his mouth and teeth, but he also suffered a brain contusion that at first threatened his very well being. Jodzio was charged with assault causing bodily harm with intent to injure.
For weeks afterward, Tardif was not allowed to leave his house because the exertion of just walking was too much for him. Once fears had been lifted about possible paralysis and brain damage, Tardif was able to move slowly. By the end of the summer he was in good enough shape to exercise, but he had to decline an invitation to Team Canada's training camp for the Canada Cup.
The following March he filed a $150,000 lawsuit against Jodzio, claiming a loss of $20,000 from Canada Cup participation and a further $130,000 for pain, permanent disability, and disruption of normal life during his convalescence. Remarkably, he continued to play and score and in 1979, when the Nordiques joined the NHL, Tardif was still playing.
After four more years back in the NHL, Tardif retired a hero in Quebec and was given a proud sendoff. His number 8 was retired by the Nordiques near the start of the 1983-84 season.
