Serge Roberge was a pugnacious right winger who's only job was basically to fight. The 6'1" 195lber from Quebec City did exactly that for well over a dozen pro teams in a lengthy pro career.
However Serge only played in nine NHL games, all with the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990-91 season. The Nords signed him for extra toughness at the minor league level part way through December 1990 after he was released from the Montreal Canadiens organization. He played with the Habs farm team for two seasons. Serge's older brother Mario also played with the Baby Habs at the time. Mario would go onto become the Canadiens enforcer for parts of 5 NHL seasons.
Serge, on the other hand, continued to toil among a variety of minor league teams. While he was playing in Utica, New York he had the opportunity to play under a head coach by the name of Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. Schultz of course set the NHL mark for most penalty minutes in a season with 472 and his name is synonymous with that of the Broad Street Bullies that he played with during the Philadelphia Flyers reign of terror in the 1970s.
Schultz called Roberge the "best policeman in the league."
It was a tough way to earn a minor league paycheck, but Serge Roberge would have done it until the day he died if he could have.
1 comment:
Arguably the greatest technical fighter of all time. Someone he fought
(Jim McKenzie perhaps) once said they had to be cut out of their jersey, Serge had tied them u so well. Fought all the heavies coming up thru the AHL in 80s and 90s. His only NHL fight was in his second game vs Ken Baumgartner. Always wondered why he never fought in the other 8 NHL games
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