The Philadelphia Flyers recently signed 6’3’’, 230-pound free agent veteran forward Jody Shelley to a three-year contract, according to club general manager Paul Holmgren. Shelley, one of the league’s preeminent tough guys, and one of the top fighters of the 2000-2010 decade, will see plenty of fistic action in the 2010-2011 season, as arch rivals Derek Boogaard (New York Rangers), D.J. King (Washington Capitals), and Eric Godard (Pittsburgh Penguins) are now all Atlantic Division foes.
Jody Shelley Philadelphia Flyers
Shelley, an honest, fair, old-fashion heavyweight, 34, split the 2009-10 campaign with the San Jose Sharks, where he started the season, and had three assists and 78 penalty minutes in 36 contests, and the New York Rangers, where he logged six points (2 goals,4 assists) and 37 penalty minutes in 21 games. Shelley joins a Flyers franchise sorely needing a heavyweight presence, a void compounded last year by Riley Cote’s inability to develop his hockey skills. Cote, whose career spanned 156 NHL games, accrued 411 penalty minutes and plenty of exciting fighting majors. But he saw little action in 2009-2010, however, and prematurely retired, at age 28.
Shelley tallied 13 fighting majors during the 2009-2010 regular season, including three scraps as a New York Ranger. On February 8, 2010, he one-punched Toronto Maple Leafs’ top pugilist Colton Orr, and then fought an aggressive Orr to a draw on April 7, 2010.
Jody Shelley Hockey Fights
The signing of Jody Shelley – whose average time on the ice during his nine year NHL career is a scant 6:10 – to a three-year, $3.3 million contract is a move that may see the bulked up Flyers taking a step back to the old Broad Street Bullies days. A native of Thompson, Manitoba, the consistently physical Shelley has seen the ice in parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2000-01 to 2007-08), San Jose (2007-08 to 2009-10) and Rangers (2009-10).
He was one of the most popular players in the brief history of the expansion Blue Jackets. One of the reasons for this popularity: he amassed a career-high 30 fighting majors in 2003-2004; 27 majors in 2002-2003; and fought 28 times in 2001-2002, including three wars against Bob Probert, January 10, 2002. All total, he has recorded 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) and 1,347 penalty minutes in 538 career regular season games. Shelley has also appeared in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games in his career, without scoring a point.
Shelley should be a perfect fit for the Philadelphia Flyers, and serve as a stellar, fresh example of the classic Philadelphia Flyers rough and tumble brand of hockey.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
