Leafs enforcer Darcy Tucker hilariously recalls how he became friends with his biggest rival
Darcy Tucker has always been known for his fiery intensity and physical play, but his recent appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast showed the humorous side of hockey rivalries.
As reported by Maple Leafs Daily, the Toronto Maple Leafs legend shared a hilarious story about his former rival and eventual teammate, Steve Thomas.
Tucker recalled his first day as a Maple Leaf after being traded to Toronto, walking into the dressing room and coming face-to-face with Steve Thomas with whom he'd already fought twice.
Darcy Tucker's greeting was casual:
The podcast hosts, including Paul Bissonnette, asked who had the upper hand in their fights.
Darcy Tucker admitted that the first fight didn't go well for him:
However, he claimed the second and third fights were more evenly matched and in the third one, Tucker remembered Thomas flattening him after he went after Mats Sundin.
Steve Thomas defended his actions, saying,
The story ended with Tucker laughing as he described Thomas having «two eyes swelled shut in the team picture.»
It's a perfect example of how the gritty nature of hockey can lead to unexpected friendships when they land in the same team.
Both Darcy Tucker and Steve Thomas were known for their physicality with Tucker racking up 1,410 penalty minutes in 947 NHL games and Thomas accumulated 1,306 penalty minutes over 1,235 games.
This camaraderie shows how the fiercest on-ice rivalries can evolve into lasting friendships off the ice.
The Maple Leafs' rich history is full of such stories and reminds fans of the toughness and humour that make hockey so special.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 20 | 157 ANSWERS Leafs enforcer Darcy Tucker hilariously recalls how he became friends with his biggest rival Do you think Darcy Tucker was one of the greatest enforcers in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 100 | 63.7 % |
| No | 57 | 36.3 % |
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