Joe Kocur

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size =
position = Right Wing
played_for = "WHL"
Saskatoon Blades
"AHL"
Adirondack Red Wings
"IHL"
San Antonio Dragons
"NHL"
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Vancouver Canucks
shot = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 220
nickname = Bruise Brother
nationality = Canada
birth_date = birth date and age|1964|12|21
birth_place = Kelvington, Canada
draft = 88^th overall
draft_year = 1983
draft_team = Detroit Red Wings
career_start = 1983
career_end = 1999
halloffame =

Joseph "Joey" Kocur (Born December 21 , 1964 in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada) [cite web | url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kocurjo01.html | title=Joe Kocur] is a retired professional ice hockey player. He is best known as one half of the "Bruise Brothers," the other being Bob Probert, when playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

Known for his physical play, Kocur is one of the most penalized players in NHL history amassing a career total of 2519 penalty minutes in stints with the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks. Kocur retired at the end of the 1998–1999 season. He served as a video coach to Scotty Bowman from the 2001 season until Bowman's retirement following the 2002 season. Under head coach Dave Lewis, Kocur served as an associate coach along with Barry Smith. He was not asked to return after the hiring of new coach Mike Babcock.

Kocur is best known for his devastating right-hand punch, compared by some players to a train. In fact, since he so frequently hit players with his right hand and often landed blows on their helmets or teeth, his right hand was often in quite poor condition.

Pound for pound he was one of the strongest fighters in the NHL. In an interview with Donald Brashear, Brashear described how Kocur had cracked his helmet with his punches, and though his helmet had absorbed most of the blow, he still felt serious pain in his gums, even on the other side of his face, leaving him unable to eat for a day or so. His punches often seriously injured players, such as Brad Dalgarno of the New York Islanders, whose orbital bone was fractured by Kocur.

Kocur had actually left the NHL following the 1996 season, and was playing in a beer league when the Red Wings brought him back during the 1996–97 season, after captain Steve Yzerman suggested him to head coach Scotty Bowman. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E0DD103AF932A25755C0A96E958260] Although he didn't fight as much as in his younger days, Kocur still brought an element of toughness to the Wings that had been lost with the departures of Probert and Stu Grimson. Kocur scored several goals over the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup finals series, helping the Wings to win the Stanley Cup both times.

Joe Kocur is now living in Michigan with his wife Kristen, son Liam, and daughter Kendall. He is a member of the [http://www.redwingalumni.com/roster.html Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association] and is active in its efforts to raise money for children's charities in Metro Detroit. Recently he created Kocur Enterprises, a manufacturer's representative of specialty products serving commercial, industrial and municipal markets in several states.

Achievements

*1994 Stanley Cup Champion (NYR)
*1997 Stanley Cup Champion (Detroit)
*1998 Stanley Cup Champion (Detroit)

References

External links

*hockeydb|2767