Paul Bissonnette names the toughest guy he ever fought

Paul Bissonnette was a tough enforcer during his playing days. Now, he has revealed the toughest opponent he ever fought: Jon ”Nasty” Mirasty.

Today, Bissonnette is a highly respected TV broadcaster on NHL on TNT and a popular podcaster on Spittin’ Chiclets, which he co-hosts with Ryan Whitney.

Paul Bissonnette NHL career

As a player, Bissonnette was drafted in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003. He worked his way onto the Penguins roster as a fearless enforcer. During his time in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he fought some very tough opponents. One of them stood out—Jon “Nasty” Mirasty, who was playing for the Syracuse Crunch at the time.
Mirasty never made it to the NHL, but he was feared throughout the minor leagues and became a cult figure. One of his trademarks was smiling during fights. He also competed in boxing as a teenager and later in MMA after his hockey career.

Fought Jon Mirasty several times

Appearing as a guest on the Wingmen podcast, hosted by Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk, Bissonnette named Mirasty as the toughest opponent he ever fought and recalled what it was like facing him.
“I would say Jon ‘Nasty’ Mirasty. He was like Tie Domi. He had a head like a bowling ball, he would lead with his head and go boom, boom, boom, and your knuckles would be shattered. Then he would just take over the fight. He broke my nose a few times,” Bissonnette said on the podcast and continued.

”It got so bad that he wanted to fight every game that Dan Bylsma, our coach, was like, ‘Hey Biz, don’t fight him.’ But we’re in Syracuse, and those fans are paying to watch Mirasty fight someone. The minute I stepped on the ice, the coach would put him out, and he’d follow me around.
The whole crowd would start booing if I didn’t drop ’em. So finally I did, and of course he beat me up again. Bylsma was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘Bud, he’s not following you around for your whole shift. I might as well get this over with.’ Then you’d give him his fight, and by the middle of the second period, he’d have his skates untied on the bench just hanging out,” Bissonnette said on the podcast.

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