One of the most amazing things about hockey is the rate of speed that the players travel. While NFL players can reach speeds of up to 20 mph, the average hockey player can get up to 30-35 mph. Granted most collisions do not occur with both players in both sports travelling at full speed, but the average collision in hockey occurs with more force on a much harder landing surface.
The art of hitting successfully has much more to do with leverage than size, though being a big strong galoot goes a long way in either sport. One of the most notorious hit men in the NHL is Niklas Kronwall. So devastating are his hits, he even has an adverb named after him:
Kronwalled-[krahn-wahld]-verb: to smash, level, waste, ravage, devastate, destroy, demolish, raze. Imply reducing a thing to uselessness. To defeat completely.
Though I could quite easily dedicate this article to the Detroit defenseman, let’s take a look at some of the biggest hits from the 2011-12 season.
5. Ryan O’Byrne: Video Link
Big points for the Colorado defenseman for going after the biggest dud in the league. He takes Chara out with a perfectly timed shoulder that doesn’t sit well with the big Boston blue-liner.
4. Alex Ovechkin/Dion Phaneuf: Video Link
These two exchanged pleasantries and shoulder checks in their matchup last December. Two of the most talented and physical players in the league going at it hard is what makes hockey great.
3. Chris Neil: Video Link
Johnny Boychuk is used to lowering the boom on most people, but Chris Neil hardly qualifies as most people. Neil stays down after crushing Boychuk, probably more to avoid retaliation from the rest of the Bruins than from actual injury.
2. Brooks Orpik: Video Link
Daniel Paille gets launched by Pittsburgh’s defenseman and slides about 20-feet across the ice. Orpik is an unforgiving hit man who will crunch anyone, at anytime, anywhwere on the ice.
1. Niklas Kronwall: Video Link
Love him or hate him, Kronwall will drop the hammer if you don’t have your head up. For everyone who expects Kronwall to fight after he flattens you, grow up, this isn’t beer league. If you don’t want to end up on Youtube, keep your head on a swivel.