The NHL in the 1990s was very different from today’s league, and every team had at least one brutal enforcer. At the Buffalo Sabres’ rookie camp in 1992, both Brad May and Matthew Barnaby showed up. Before the coaches knew it, the two were going at it—but what May said to Barnaby afterward has stayed with him ever since.
Brad May and Matthew Barnaby were two of the toughest players in the NHL during the 1990s. Barnaby was the league’s most penalized player twice, in the 1995–96 and 2000–01 seasons.
READ MORE: Matthew Barnaby ”hates” his former teammate Dominik Hasek
Met each other at rookie camp
When they called it quits on their careers, they had racked up 2,248 (May) and 2,562 (Barnaby) penalty minutes, respectively. In 1992, both players found themselves at the Buffalo Sabres’ rookie camp, trying to earn a spot on the roster. When competing for a place in the NHL, every player gives 110 percent—and May and Barnaby were no exception. They even dropped the gloves during camp.
Brad May fought Matthew Barnaby at practice
As guests on the Ice Guardians podcast, hosted by Kelly Chase and Brett Hull, the two recalled the fight together.
“I show up, and when I’m going, I look at the notes. I pay attention to the penalty minutes—who’s coming? And there’s this kid with a nickname, Killer. He has 400 penalty minutes for the Beauport Harfangs. The game’s going on and this guy starts blowing guys up. I don’t wanna fight; I’m getting ready to go to training camp. But I’m not gonna let this guy run around and be an asshole. I’m on the ice and he takes a run at me. I look up to the press box where the bosses are. They won’t let me fight—they say no. The next shift, this guy is running around like an asshole again. I look up and they say no,” May said on the podcast.
What they said after their fight
Matthew Barnaby then took over and told the rest of the story.
“Third time I come across, I come flying 80 feet and go to hit him. And he fcking elbows me—I go down. I get up, and he looks up and the coaches go, ‘Okay.’ I give him one, he gives about ten straight. I go down, I get up, and I try to throw a couple. Then he goes, ‘Hey, I love you. I love the way you f*cking play. I wanna be your teammate—just stay the f*ck away from me. Go fight all these other donkeys, just stay the f*ck away from me,’” Barnaby recalled, making everyone on the podcast burst into laughter.
Brad May and Matthew Barnaby went on to play together for the Buffalo Sabres until 1998, terrifying opponents night after night.
You can watch the hilarious memory below.
READ MORE: What Matthew Barnaby told Eric Lindros to make him lose his mind
