Joe Kocur

Joseph "Joey" Kocur (born December 21, 1964 in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, Canada) 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. 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.

Achievements

 * 1994 Stanley Cup Champion (NYR)
 * 1997 Stanley Cup Champion (Detroit)
 * 1998 Stanley Cup Champion (Detroit)
 * 2002 Stanley Cup Champion (Detroit as Video Coach)