Chris Chelios fought Dave Brown

Chris Chelios is widely considered one of the greatest American-born hockey players of all time. Chris Chelios was a tough competitor, but he also knew how to have a good time—something that once led him to fight Dave Brown and then attend an all-night party with him afterward.

Three Stanley Cups. Three Norris Trophies. Twenty-six NHL seasons. 1,651 games, 948 points—and 2,891 penalty minutes. Chelios had one of the most remarkable careers in hockey history. As a player, he had it all: he could defend, he could produce offensively, and he could fight. He ranks 12th all-time in NHL penalty minutes and ninth all-time in games played.

Early in his career, when Chelios was beginning to make a name for himself, he played for the Moose Jaw Canucks in the SJHL. In the same league, playing for the Yorkton Terriers, were Joey Kocur and Dave Brown. Brown—now a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers—was also an enforcer but much bigger than Chelios. But that didn’t stop the young defenseman from challenging him during a game.
As a guest on the Ice Guardians podcast, hosted by Kelly Chase and Brett Hull, Chelios recalled not only the fight but also what happened afterward—an anecdote that perfectly captures what hockey culture can be like.

”He kills me”

“I was in Moose Jaw, and Brown and Joey were on the same team, Yorkton. Brownie hit our goalie, so of course I have to grab him. But he wore a cast on his wrist. Something had happened to his hand obviously. So I grab him, and he starts drilling me with that left—with the cast on. So he kills me, but he makes the All-Star Team somehow.
The day before (the All-Star game), we ended up at the same bar and the same house party after. The game was at one in the afternoon. Me and Brownie left that house party at ten in the morning and went to the All-Star Game,” Chelios says on the podcast.
You can watch Chelios share the story below.