Author Archive for Brian D'Ambrosio
Lifelong hockey fan Brian D'Ambrosio lives in Missoula, Montana. His latest book about the life of Montana boxer "Indian" Marvin Camel is due out in mid-2013. D'Ambrosio writes widely for multiple publications.
Rink Recollections: Jeff Odgers, NHL, 1991-2003
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jeff Odgers played every NHL game as if it were his final. He never took a game for granted –scared that his career could fade away at any moment. Odgers scrapped and gritted his way onto the roster and he made sure he never provided his coaches with a sufficient reason to [...]
Brendan Witt: A Life of Old-Time Hockey, New Beginnings
By Brian D’Ambrosio Brendan Witt knew one of the Philadelphia Flyers would approach. After all, the bruising fourth line tended to drop the gloves. Slightly after the six-minute mark of the first period, the “Dan Line” -consisting of Dan Kordic, Daniel Lacroix and Scott Daniels - hoped to send a message. “Philly put these guys [...]
Rink Recollections: Chris Tamer, NHL defenseman, 1993-2004
By Brian D’Ambrosio Dearborn, Michigan native Chris Tamer grew up watching Bob Probert play hockey. Tamer even had a picture of the rugged Detroit Red Wings battler on his wall when he was attending college at the University of Michigan. It was the only photo on his wall, he says. Probert will always evoke memories [...]
Jim Agnew: Ex- NHL Tough Guy Turned Missoula, Montana Sheriff
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jim Agnew is a man in uniform who is most deeply proud of being a wholehearted team player. These days, he buttons up a beige and brown shirt before excitedly starting his work time as a deputy sheriff in Missoula, Montana. In earlier years, he wore another type of distinguishing outfit, [...]
Mike Hartman, NHL Tough Guy, 1986-1994
By Brian D’Ambrosio Mike Hartman was a resilient, keen, scrappy winger who played in 397 regular season NHL games during a career which spanned 1986-1994. At 6′ 1″, 190, Hartman once established the Buffalo Sabres’ team record for penalty minutes in one season (316). Selected in the seventh round, 131st overall, by the Buffalo [...]
Ed Kastelic, Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, 1985-1992
By Brian D’Ambrosio Ed Kastelic was a fervent 20-year-old winger when he made his NHL debut as a Washington Capital, a December 5, 1985 contest against the St, Louis Blues. Two days later he picked up his first fighting major against Vancouver Canucks’ well-prepared enforcer Glen Cochrane. Soon, he was challenging the positions of perennially [...]
Jay Wells: Rugged Defenseman Reflects on Scrappy 18-Year NHL Career
By Brian D’Ambrosio Jay Wells selflessly battled numerous enforcers of substantial note: Bob Probert, Jay Miller, Dave Brown (a few times) and Marty McSorley, among the list. One of the game’s exemplary teammates, his career spanned from 1979 to 1997, a period in which Wells stood up to the roughest individuals to ever to patrol [...]
