Hockey is a bloodsport where its players will go to great lengths to win games. Hockey players will dive in front of 100 MPH slap shots, play on broken bones, and face-punch opposing players.
I bring that last point up because Capitals’ newly acquired defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and current Capitals forward Justin Williams have a bit of a history. In 2014, they fought each other. Angrily.
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During the first period of a December 18th Kings-Blues game, Williams made a b-line towards Shattenkirk and the two dropped the gloves. Shattenkirk landed an early punch before eating a handful of rights from the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
According to HockeyFights.com, Williams won the fight handily, receiving 83% of the votes.
The fight was Williams’ fifth and (so far) final NHL fight of his career. Shattenkirk has also dropped the gloves five times overall and has face-punched three other players since 2014 (Alexandre Burrows, Tommy Wingels, and Antoine Roussel).
While some may think this will make things awkward between Williams and Shattenkirk, please keep in mind that Dale Hunter once constructed a coaching staff that consisted all of people he’s punched in the face before.
Hockey is so weird.
Photo: Harry How
Photo: Hans Gutknecht
Headline photo: Hans Gutknecht
