by
Jeff Parzych
Ali, Frazer. Hagler, Hearns. Sugden, Bonvie. Dare we put the last two names in that group? If the first two meetings between their respective clubs is any indication, the answer may be a resounding yes.
Round two was Monday evening in Binghamton and just like their initial confrontation, blood started to boil long before the drop of the puck.
Bonvie cordially initiated their first conversation while doing his customary stretching at center ice while facing the Syracuse players, a practice that Sugden stated “he has never seen outside of Slapshot.” Their conversation was proof positive that being an enforcer is a full-time job with watching film and keeping tabs on future opponents is a must.
“He said something like I guess you are killing penalties now,” said Sugden. That statement alluded to Sugden being out on the ice Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre late in the contest despite Syracuse being down two men in a five on three situation.
After exchanging pleasantries Bonvie concluded his stretching and did his customary crossing of the center red line, a fact that didn’t escape Syracuse’s newest traffic cop.
“After he got up he went way over on our side of the red line,” recounted Sugden. “So I timed it so he would go went I went over.” Both players bumped at that point and a minor scrum broke out and more words were exchanged.
“He told me not to go over my red line again,” said Sugden. “I answered back and mentioned that I wasn’t going anywhere and I am here if he wants me.”
Well he did want him as it turned out at the 12:44 mark of period number one. Sugden invited him to dance with a nice cross-check to the chops, an invitation the elder statesmen could not refuse. Just as they did in their first bout, both players danced for a good twenty seconds or so before engaging.
“He (Bonvie) is smart and he respects me and I respect him in that way,” stated Sugden. “He is not just going to jump in and get tagged and neither am I.”
That actual fight lacked a clear-cut winner, as the press box scorecards probably would have came back with a split decision. Sugden realizes that Bonvie is well schooled when it comes to dropping them, but he felt that Dennis played into his hands a little by going for that one big punch.
“He is a good technical fighter and I am a good technical fighter,” said Sugden. “He didn’t hit me with anything. He was trying to go for the big bombs and it is kind of easy to fight someone when they do that because it throws them way off balance like it did.”
The action didn’t stop there. In the penalty box both players still were very chatty. They were jawing back and forth and at one point both players even stood up inviting the other to come over and continue what was started on the ice. It was reminiscent of John Badduke back in the War Memorial, but this time there was no glass separating the two combatants.
“There is nothing to jump over. It is just a straight walk,” stated Sugden. "There is nothing in between except the two guys.”
Soon enough the referee grew tired of this whole act and skated over to seemingly warn just Sugden. “I don’t know why it was just me. Bonvie was doing most of the talking and I just was coming back at him. Maybe because he had already warned him,” explained Sugden.
Order at that point seemed to be restored and Sugden, while being admonished by the referee, made a gesture to the official that he was done talking by pretending to zip his lip.
They were both out on the ice together a few more times in the contest, but just like round one in Syracuse, nothing materialized. Round three is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, November 29 in Binghamton. Start planning the road trip now.
As for the previously mentioned incident in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday night, it seemed that Sugden dancing with Koci was a foregone conclusion. In the first game of the home and home series between the two on Friday, Sugden repeatedly tried to engage the big Czech native, but Koci wanted no part of it. Saturday night Sugden decided that Koci didn’t have a choice.
“The end of the game we are down and we are not going to win and he is running around trying to fight other guys on my team and whenever I try to go with him he just says no,” said Sugden. “So I just sort of decided he wasn’t going to say no this time.”
The fact that Koci was surprised by the bout is puzzling. There are seconds left in the contest. Syracuse is down 5 on 3 and Brandon Sugden is on the ice, lining up next to Koci. Does he need things spelled out any more?
That fact even surprised Sugden quite a bit. “You would have thought that he would have had some idea,” said Sugden. “I even had my gloves on the ice almost just dangling on my fingers.”
Head Coach Gary Agnew has been criticized by some of late for having Sugden on the ice to close out games in Wilkes-Barre and earlier in Rochester. Count me in the minority of people who believe this is a good and smart move by the headman in Syracuse. Send that message that no one is going to take advantage of any Crunch player at the end of any Syracuse contest. I guarantee you other teams have noticed and that will pay dividends down the road.
For those who aren’t already aware the Syracuse Crunch have hit the information superhighway and their game broadcasts are now available on the web. This gives fans outside the Syracuse area the opportunity to follow the Crunch and also enables them to give listen to Bob McElligott, Syracuse’s very talented play by play man.
Bobby Mac, as he is known in these parts, displayed those skills again on Saturday evening when the Crunch were visiting Wachovia Arena to play the baby Pens. The game was all but decided, but Mr. McElligott keenly realized what was happening, and kept listener’s interest by setting the stage perfectly for the fireworks that were about to ensue between Syracuse enforcer Brandon Sugden and Penguin defenseman David Koci.
He then proceeded to give a very descriptive fight call which is always entertaining and more importantly, unbiased. He finished things off by dropping the line “now that’s old-time hockey”. An extremely fitting ending that displays exactly where the voice of the Crunch is coming from. One can only wonder, how did Syracuse fans last as long as they did with the likes of Joel Stern?