A Devastating Tilt Between A Veteran Blackhawks Player and A Lightning Enforcer
If you've heard of Matt Rempe, you should hear of Ryan VandenBussche who played fourteen seasons in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
When he played for the Blackhawks during the 2000 season, the Tampa Bay Lightning arrived in the United Center on March 3rd.
The melee between two NHL enforcers would be legendary, as VandeBussche and Kyle Freadrich.
3:27 minutes into the game we would see the best of what NHL enforcers could offer at the time. It was a complete war on ice, as VandenBussche was 6' and 6" shorter than Freadrich, giving the fight a real contrast of not just size but strength as well.
But VandenBussche would put those fears aside, as they would engage in a melee in front of the bench and NHL officials wouldn't dare to step in as each player would exchange the hurt bombs, continuously, but like a match between Rocky and Apollo Creed, or David and Goliath neither would submit.
Freadrich would sacrifice two teeth, which would fly past his teammates but again press forward. Both players would readjust after it seemed Vandy would win the bout, but Freadrich would attempt to re-assert himself in the fight and capitalize upon the right hand that was free from a sleeve and free to wreak havoc on Vandy's head.
VandenBussche wouldn't give up and returned blows in kind, with a flurry of uppercuts and jabs until both would fall against the bench in exhaustion.
The battle is a testament to a different period in the NHL when Enforcers like Georges Laraque ruled the roost.
Even the not-so-well-known enforcers had their own magic of their own and VandenBussche provided us with an exciting bout that day.
VandenBussche's career in the NHL ended long ago and is now the Founder/President of New Leaf Canada Inc. and known for his plant-based medicine advocacy for athletes.
Source: Wikipedia
Ryan VandenBussche
Source: When Probert Was King
Kyle Freadrich vs. Ryan VandenBussche - 3/3/00
| POLL | ||
Who won? | ||
| Kyle Freadrich | 11 | 34.4 % |
| Ryan VandenBussche | 21 | 65.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
