Ron Hextall is known as the toughest goalie to ever play in the NHL—and he has the numbers to back it up, with a record 569 penalty minutes. But during the “best goalie fight ever,” Hextall took a beating from Felix Potvin. It wasn’t until later that Hextall found out where Potvin had learned to fight.
Over 13 seasons, Ron Hextall made a name for himself as an agitator—not a typical role for a goaltender, but that was just his style of play. Racking up 569 penalty minutes in 608 games, Hextall holds the record as the most penalized NHL goalie of all time—a record that will likely never be broken. Among active goaltenders today, Jonathan Quick of the New York Rangers is the closest, with just 78 penalty minutes.
Best NHL goalie fight ever
Ron Hextall dropped the gloves no fewer than five times during his career. His fight with Chris Chelios is probably the most well-known, but he was also involved in what is widely regarded as the greatest goalie fight in NHL history. During a 1996 regular-season game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers, Hextall skated across the entire ice to square off with Leafs goaltender Felix Potvin. But the fight didn’t go as Hextall had planned.
Ron Hextall against Felix Potvin
Both goalies removed their helmets and exchanged punches, but the bigger and more experienced Hextall ended up bleeding after a big hit from Potvin. It wasn’t until after the game that Hextall learned where Potvin had learned to fight: he was taught to box by his father, a Montreal fireman, and by relatives who had played in the rugged Quebec senior league.
You can watch the fight in the clip below.
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