Dirty play sees former NHLer knocked out cold in senior men's league
When players retire from the National Hockey League, we don't often see them suit up for another game of hockey, maybe there's a reason for that, after all the physical toll playing in the NHL takes on your body, one would think that when you hang them up, your competitive drive is nearly over.
Sometimes however, that is not the case, but when an NHLer plays in a mens competitive senior league such as Ryan Smyth did in 2017, this happens.
As seen in the clip above, a real tough guy decides he wants to prove himself against one of the Edmonton Oilers best players of all time and takes it upon himself to elbow him right in the side of the face, causing what was sure to be a melee after the fact.
I love that Smyth still had the competitive want to play the game after retiring, after all his entire career he was a tireless worker, relentless in fact, but this is why we don't see a lot of former NHLERS try to play competitive hockey after hanging them up.
There are too many fake hot shots out there in men's leagues competitive or otherwise that would be far too willing to take a run at guys like Smyth, who into retirement probably just want to feel the spirit again.
![Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/533020.webp "Feb 20, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against Team Canada during the first period during the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images")
