When rivalries get too bitter, brawls grow uglier. This is exactly what happened in a faceoff between the Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings on 26th march 1997. Recalling this unforgettable fight, NHL player Kris Draper finally disclosed the gory details which still give us goosebumps.
Kris Draper disclosed these lesser-known details about the popular brawl in the year 2017. Since he was actively involved in the brawl while playing for the Detroit Red Wings, his perspective becomes more important. Draper also revealed the unbelievable aftermath of the brawl. Let’s find out more.
NHL Player Kris Draper’s version of what led to the 1997 hockey brawl and his version of the 1997 brawl
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The hockey player narrated an incident where Claude Lemieux knocked Draper from behind in 1996. This took place in the sixth game of the 1996 Western Conference Finals. ‘I saw blood on the ice”, Draper remarked, remembering how he blacked out. Later, Draper related, “Most people think that the feud started when I broke my face in Game 6. But it started way before that. From the first drop of the puck of Game 1, guys were taking runs, slashing, grabbing, sucker punching, you name it.”
Afterward, the rivalry reached a climax on 26th March 1997. Healed from the nasty hit, Draper was once again playing as a part of the Detroit Red Wings. This was going to be the Detroit Red Wings’ final game against the Colorado Avalanche team before the playoffs. The incident took place in the dressing room. Suddenly, there was a loud noise that drew Draper’s attention to Darren McCarthy who also played for the Detroit Red Wings.
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Draper elaborated how Darren McCarthy began to hit Lemieux who tried to shield himself. Soon, Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon left their nets to join the fight. However, Brendan Shanahan came into Patrick Roy’s path suddenly, causing them both to be badly impacted. Later, Draper recounted how Darren McCarthy started dragging Lemieux towards the Detroit Red Wings’ side.
Draper further revealed how he was also blamed for the incident. “In the middle of all this pandemonium, Marc Crawford, the Avs coach, is yelling at me, “You started all this, Draper!” On hearing these words, Scotty Bowman forbade the coach from talking with his team. The icing on the cake after this brawl was that the Detroit Red Wings beat the Colorado Avalanche in the match.
Later Kris also narrated his frank views about Claude Lemieux. He also talked about a strange incident where he once again met Lemieux and the surprising aftermath of the meeting.
Kris Draper’s statements about Claude Lemieux after the unforgettable rivalry
Draper stated that he did not speak to Lemieux after the incident. Continuing, he expressed, “Even if I didn’t like him very much, I actually respected how clutch he was as a player.” This reflects how the incident of the hit still affects Draper’s views of Lemieux.
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Afterwards, Draper related an incident where Claude met Draper and his whole family. What Claude did, both surprised Draper and made him feel glad. “Claude politely introduced himself to my whole family, and shook everybody’s hand”, Draper remarked. The fact that both hockey players were able to shake hands after their bitter rivalry shows their true sportsmanship spirit.
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Draper’s version of the events depicts how both Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche violently settled the brawl. What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments section.
