Probert was known for being a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the bruise brothers with teammate joey kocur, during the late 1980s. We set out to find the best of bob proberts nhl fights and while we. Former forward for the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks, known as a fighter and enforcer, one half of the muchfeared bruise brothers. Former nhl and red wings heavyweights bob probert and joey kocur, along with bob duff of the windsor star, have a book coming soon. Bob probert simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Amongst those names to represent the detroit red wings in the stanley cup playoffs was one half of the bruise brothers duo, bob probert, who retired in 2002 and later died of. Exdetroit red wings joe kocur and darren mccarty joined bob proberts widow dani probert to share their memories of the former red. To put things in perspective, last season steve downie lead the nhl in penalty minutes with 238. Before fame he played with the brantford alexanders of the ontario hockey league before being drafted by the red wings in 1983. Teaming up with one half of the bruise brothers, thenred wing teammate joe kocur, they have released a book which probert discusses on wrif radio, detroit. Former nhl enforcers ashes laid to rest inside of the. Is it fair to say that proberts time with the wings and being part of the bruise brothers with joey kocur helped to set the table for some of the success that detroit saw in the 90s, and for attracting a new fanbase to the team that may have strayed away in the 70s and early 80s. His role as the hardhitting enforcer of the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks, as well as his hardliving ways and death at age 45, is the subject of a new documentary. Robert alan probert april 20, 1985 july 5, 2010 was a canadian professional ice hockey right winger.
An autobiography of bob probert and joe kocurs hockey careers o. Two years later, probert earned 398 minutes of penalty minutes, leading the nhl. He was one half of the bruise brothers joey kocur was the other half. Probert, along with former teammate joe kocur, is featured in a book entitled bruise brothers by bob duff. They doled out their brand of frontier justice on the ice during the late 1980s and early 1990s as members of. He played for the detroit red wings and the chicago blackhawks. Kocur talks to host ira glass about how a good enforcer keeps other players in line.
Because of their willingness and love to drop their gloves at any given moment, probert and kocur became known as the bruise brothers around the nhl. See more ideas about bob probert, red wings hockey and detroit red wings. Probert book reveals life of sex and drugs the globe and. Kocur makes occasional cameo appearances playing adult league hockey in waterford, michigan. Howehardcover book signed by gordie and colleen howeguarantee sticker. Before his death, probert had been working on a memoir with kirstie mclellan day, cowriter of theo fleurys bestselling autobiography playing with fire. His role as the hardhitting enforcer of the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks, as well as his hardliving ways and death at the age of 45, is the subject of a new documentary trailer above. Bob probert is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer on the detroit red wings, but he has also had his share of office antics and legal problems.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, probert and kocur became known as the bruise brothers for their enforcing and punishing style of hockey, as well as the ridiculous amount of penalty minutes by todays standards the two racked up. Bob probert, half of the bruise bros redwings enforcers along with joey kocur. Years later were writing a book the bruise brothers and im telling this exact story. Probert also wrote a book entitled what a journey its been published in 2007, and was featured in the book bruise brothers along with his former teammate joe kocur. Probert is the subject of scoop malinowskis 2019 book, facing bob probert. If you want to read more stories about joe kocurs life as a hockey enforcer, its all in a new book called the bruise brothers, about kocur and his teammate and fellow enforcer bob probert. Nhl star bob probert, one half of the bruise brothers, was widely. Steve yzerman was taken in the first round of teh 1983 nhl entry draft, the sme year that the wings also tabbed two other prominent figures for the team over the next decade, bob probert and joe kocus. Born in windsor, ontario, canada, probert played ice hockey at a very young age. Good friends and former teammates bob probert and joey kocur a. Hockeys heavyweight champions by bob duff online at alibris. Signed autographed bob probert joe kocur bruise brothers. The 2019 book of scoop malinowski on probert titled facing bob probert. Joe kocur, bob probert by bob duff, 9780978977023, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
Ap file photo bob probert will be remembered as a fighter. Probert played a total of 1,016 games in the national hockey league nhl. Love this book such an easy read, its funny and deep at the same time it totally gives you a glimpse of what it was like to be them. Probert was the king along with kocur at the timeif only the two would have been cloned and brought back to hockeytown today, then noone would stand a chance against either one of these two. Bob probert, canadian ice hockey player born june 5, 1965, windsor, ont. The bruise brothers hockeys heavyweight champions 9780978977030 by bob duff and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Was there a more feared onetwo punch in the the nhl than the days when bob probert and joey kocur protected the detroit. I recently read an interview with donald brashear describing what it was like to take on joey kocur in a fight. During the 198788 season, probert scored 29 goals and was selected to play in the nhl allstar game. Trouble has continued to follow bob probert in retirement. Probert and kocur became known as the bruise brothers, and multiple nhl players weighed in monday to say probert might have been the scariest player. He died suddenly in 2010 at the age of 45 while boating with his family. Nhl star bob probert, one half of the bruise brothers, was widely considered one of the toughest and most violent ice hockey players of all time. The bruise brothers throw off the gloves and engage in.
He is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the bruise brothers with then detroit red wings teammate bob probert, during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Proof that bob probert was nhl heavyweight fight champ. He played for the detroit red wings and chicago blackhawks in the national hockey league nhl while a successful player by some measures, including being voted to the 198788 campbell conference allstar team, bob was best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer as well as. Bob probert born robert alan probert on june 5, 1965 was a canadian professional ice hockey forward. Joseph george joey kocur born december 21, 1964 is a canadian former professional ice hockey player. Norm probert, right, brother of nhler bob probert, leaves. Kocur left the red wings in 1991, won a stanley cup with the new york rangers in 19934, then returned to detroit for the 19967 season, helping to win a pair of stanley cups for detroit. Search for library items search for lists search for. It is based on a book by days mother kirstie mclellan day, who cowrote. The rematch between the bruise brothers is from jan. Portrait of a hockey legend includes interviews of several ice hockey players on their memories of playing against probert. Old skool nhl enforcer someone who hates you as their enemy, will kill you on sight, sometimes within the rules, most often when they know itll hurt most. Former nhl tough guy bob probert dead at age 45 the.
Chicago blackhawks bob probert 24 and boston bruins andrei nazarov 62 of russia, mix it up along the boards during a first period fight sunday, oct. He along with kocur remained subjects of the september 9, 2011 published book bruise brothers by bob duff. Fans nicknamed probert and joey kocur the bruise brothers. Summarizing the reflections on former red wings enforcer. Bruise brothers was there a more feared onetwo punch in the the nhl than the days when bob probert and joey kocur protected the detroit red wings. He supported many local charities and twice visited troops in afghanistan. Robert alan probert june 5, 1965 july 5, 2010 was a canadian professional ice hockey. Signed autographed bob probert joe kocur bruise brothers detroit red wings shirt from. Norm probert, right, brother of nhler bob probert, leaves windsor christian fellowship following a funeral service, friday, july 9, 2010.
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