The Most Underrated Player of the '70s & the Violent Act He Can Never Forget. The Marc Tardif story
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- čas přidán 4. 09. 2022
- Two-time WHA MVP and Montreal Canadiens Stanley Cup winner Marc Tardif is the forgotten star of the 1970s. The WHA’s all-time leading goal scorer and an NHL All Star, Tardif’s magnificent career is certified Hall of Fame worthy.
By the end of the 1975-76, Tardif was the best LW in the game.
But Tardif’s career nearly came to a premature end in April 1976 after a violent and senseless attack left him bloodied and severely injured. Eventually, Tardif battled back from the physical pain, managed his emotional trauma and go on to realize his greatest career achievements.
When his playing days ended, the Quebec Nordiques retired his #8 and he’d enjoy great success off the ice. But the nightmares of that horrifying night in 1976 persisted.
In order to erase those haunting memories and achieve true peace of mind, Marc Tardif would need to come face to face with the man who nearly ruined his life.
#montrealcanadiens #hockeyfights #quebecnordiques
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Montreal had such an absolute unreal advantage with their ridiculous ability to draft those players for free before the rest of the league, imo it forever tarnishes their accomplishments.
Marc Tardiff definitely should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, it's not the NHL Hall of Fame
Not many hockey fans know that criminal charges can and have been made successfully against players who commit on-ice brutality.
I think most hockey fans these days know that. When I was a kid, you could get into a fight at school, and you'd get sent to the principals office. If I got into a fight at the grocery store, the cops would be called. Nowadays, the cops are called on kids fighting in grade school. Things have definitely changed, and hockey hasn't been immune to the changes.
For sure hey look what they tried to do to the Hanson Brothers !
@@peterjohnson617 and someone threw a tire iron at them!
Yeah, and back in the old days it ruined some players careers because fans thought criminal charges had no place in sports... And I mean it ruined the players pressing charges careers.
Soft league
after all that he still talked about having beers...that is a true hockey player...
Ha Ha ... I wonder if anyone noticed that!
I loved Marc Tardif . He was in the shadows of the great Habs teams . He should be in the Hall of Fame .
agreed ... thanks for your comment.
He definitely produced, and did so during The Ugliest displays of so called hockey with players who were drafted according to their PIM,S And then points, so embarrassing as The game devolved with players who had minimal skills. And many Good players got their chance and players started to finally get payed and it Forced others Teams to start with Fair Pay!
The 70s was a real goon Era, with the big bad flyers really bringing goon hockey to the forefront. Wha teams, filled their rosters with them, along with other players who would never have played in pro hockey.
You are correct ... It was insane.
Ed Snider the Flyers GM, watched his team get brutalized by the St Louis Blues and brought in Schultz, Saleski and Kelly to protect the skill players. The Flyers won 2 cups and goonage became the fashion until the speed and skill of the Canadians brought them down.
@@davidbranin969, The Canadiens had their share of tough guys as well, such as Chris Nilan, Yvon Lambert, and Larry Robinson. In the 1976 Stanley Cup Finals, Robinson hit Gary Dornhoefer into the boards so hard that the boards broke, and it took about 45 minutes to repair the boards so the game could continue.
@@larrylaunsteinjr1015 Robinson gave as good as he got with Schultz and was a great defenseman. I don't remember Nilan back then but I'm sure he made his presence felt. Dornhoefer was a poor man's Esposito in front of the net and one of my favorites. Coming close to 50 years since winning the cup. Glad my hockey bucket list was crossed of at 13 years old
@@davidbranin969, He joined the Cnadiens in the 1979-80 season.
This is a truly remarkable story; encompassing both the best and the worst of what people are capable of. Thank you Pro Hockey Alumni for another fascinating and mostly forgotten episode from the past.
Thanks, Jake ... We try to capture the "human"side of the legends from this era. Thanks for watching -- and commenting!
@@ProHockeyAlumni and you do. The 70s was such an interesting time. in some ways it seems the players were still treated as property by the league. they were expected to do as they were told and there was not much regard for whatever they might be going through emotionally or psychologically. Hell management was often just as indifferent to their physical pain and injuries. Even among the players (maybe especially among the players) there was such a strong ethos to just be tough and play through pain. The interview with Tardif where he tries to describe the terrible after effects of his injury is very poignant. He can't quite articulate what he's experiencing but seems resigned to the fact that he may never be as he was before, finally saying what can he do except take it day by day. Wow. Thing were changing. It's still changing. But these stories are very powerful.
@@annoyingjake The NHL knew they had to “clean” up the game as fighting, bench clearing brawls and cheap shot were happening way to often. The league also became to realize they were losing their greatest draw (Bobby Orr) who’s ailing left knee became worse with all the goon play on the ice. They knew Gretzky was in the wings and didn’t want Orr’s fate to happen to him
@@annoyingjake pppp
Marc Tardif was an excellent hockey player who I had the privilege to see play in MSG.
I took part of Marc Tardif school of hockey in the summer of 1981.. He was a class act
That's an amazing story. I saw Marc Tardif score a hat trick at the Spectrum in 1971, I believe. Jean Beliveau assisted on all three. I'm glad he healed from his injury and was able to lead a normal life.
Slight correction the game was 12/27/70, Yvan Cournoyer assisted on all three Tardif goals, Beliveau two assists.
Wow I've never heard this story before 😳
In his prime, he was a special player, an elite offensively gifted player
Agreed ... het gets overlooked as time goes on but he was a special player.
@@ProHockeyAlumni I always made it a point to see Les Nordiques whenever they passed through Edmonton because they were the WHA’s version of a run and gun team and were so much fun to watch and a nice break from the goon show that most teams seemed to embrace at that time!
Made his career against weak WHL opposition. Never more than a marginal 3rd line winger in the NHL
@@lancecampbell4323 sick take, now get back to Fortnite
@@lancecampbell4323 You would have survive 5 min in this league. Tell me you know shit about hockey and the game without tell me...
Yep. I got to watch him when I was a boy (with Robbie Ftorek) at the Winnipeg Arena! Those were really good days as a youngster. Just wish that I got more autographs as a kid back then!
A very nice story.
Very touching...Hockey players are human beings first. I am glad for Tardif and Jodzio that this meeting finally happened!
Great video and commentary!!!
Thanks Hexy! Appreciate it.
Another underrated left winger in the 70's that's been lost to time...Richard Martin. He should also be in the Hall of Fame alongside his linemate, Gilbert Perreault.
It was absolutely amazing and wonderful to hear about the meeting of Marc Tardif and Rick Jodzio in 2007. I’m sure that I’m not alone in admitting that I shed a tear or two. I was 14 years old in the spring of 1976 living in my hometown of Calgary when that horrific brawl took place. Perhaps it’s also time to start lobbying to encourage admitting Marc Tardif to the HHOF. Thanks once again for another amazing segment. All the best from John in Calgary.
My main man, Classic Rocker! Thanks so much for your comments. Always a privilege to hear from you.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I can hardly wait to see what you come up with next!
Did Tardif shot him in the face and kill him ?
1 hour of fighting. Damn, wild times!
I had no idea that they'd met until I watched this. 🤨😲
Classy move by Mr. Jadzio.
10:05 CLASSIC approach of late 1970's / early 80's men (and myself, as well) to sports injuries and recovery:
"You don't feel the same, and sometimes after you have maybe one or two beers, like you you feel more headache than you used to before.
Uuuuh, the best thing to do, is that you have to forget about it, try to forget about it."
We are men!!!
We are dumb!!
LOL
HA HA ... awesome comment ... made me laugh -- Thanks!
A very nice presentation.
Thanks ... appreciate it!
Back in the day when men were real men. "It took great courage for him to meet me, I'm not sure I could have done the same." such humility from the victim.
Glad I got to see him play at the Aeros games. He was one of my favorite players.
I think the most powerful thing out of this was when Tardif said, "There are things that are dead in the head."
That was poignant indeed. You rarely hear such bluntness regarding the repercussions of concussions.
Great player show be in the Hall.
agreed ... totally overlooked.
I have that WHA goal scorer card with Tardif & Hull classic.Mark Tarif should without a doubt be in the Hockey Hall Of Fame, he's a HOFer 100 percent !!!!
I remember Tardif as a fearsome opponent whenever the Rangers played the Habs. Thanks for this tribute.
Thanks for watching ... Marc is overlooked to some degree but not by those who watched him in his prime. Thanks.
I first thought it was Yvon Lambert.
What an insane story.. hate to see things get out of hand like that
Agreed.
Another nice film by you. Thank you.
Thanks BBK ... appreciate it!
What a wonderful lesson in gorgivenesst
Another classic from my fave hockey channel, it gave me chills. Rick Jodzio needed to complete his life with this apology, he owed it to Marc Tardif. At the same time Marc Tardif could free himself with some closure knowing Mr. Jodzio was capable of doing the right thing.
Billy Joe is back! Thanks for your great insights on this video -- as always, great value added.
@@ProHockeyAlumni Wow made my day! The stories you guys dig up from the greatest game on earth are so well researched and humanizing. NHL'ers are a special breed of pro athletes too, you would know. Cheers
Wow!! Great story with a surprise ending! Thank you! I’m not sure if I would have met someone who nearly killed me! Good for him!!
I remember watching him play on a "checking line" with Lafleur and Houle... imagine that. At the time I had no idea what I was looking at. There were TEN HALL OF FAMERS on that team:
Yvan Cournoyer
Jacques Lemaire
Henri Richard
Guy Lafleur
Guy Lapointe
Frank Mahovlich
Jacques Laperriere
Serge Savard
Ken Dryden
Rogatien Vachon
Beliveau retired the year before.
amazing, isn't it ... that 1971 playoff win over Boston was no fluke!
Didnt remember watching. Remember the name. Great article. Hall of Fame do you hear us
Your comment regarding the special draft privileges the Montreal Canadiens enjoyed would answer definitively many an online debate exploring the long running league dominance by the Canadiens.
Very good documentary.
Thanks, Danny!
So many factors to absorb here. The old footage here of Tardif was amazing. You can see the talent oozing out of him. Tardif and Perrault look like they could fit in todays NHL. Powerful stride and slick puck control. An amazing player for sure. How about those Nords sweaters!🔥 In the conversation for best ever IMO.
Great comment and insight ... Thanks so much for leaving it.
Bob I was thinking the same thing. At 9:25 they show footage of him skating in practice. When you watch old hockey videos you can almost tell what year it is by the way they skate. In that footage he looks like a player of today the way he skates and shoots the puck. Did you see him take the pass of his skate and kick it to his stick in one motion? That was a drill taught well into the 80's. Unbelievable. What a story.
I’m quite fond of the Calgary Cowboys uniform as well.
Gilbert Perreault was an amazing player as was Jean Beliveau.
@@markmailloux4472 it’s true I’m 61 from Montreal and seen hockey my whole life ( the old forum) and yeah the style of skating has changed because of equipment and perhaps because of alternate training methods as we learned from the Russians in the ‘72 series. Also the ice surface and sometimes the filming. Watch any videos of games from the 1930s and it’s bizarre how they move on the ice.
He was a real classy player and an offensive treat ! We all hated Jodzio in Quebec City. But his 2007 apologies deserve lot of respect.
Well said. Bien dit André.
i consider myself hockey-knowledgable lolll...watching every season for almost 30 years and have never even heard of this guy...how is that possible with so many accomplishments and accolades. Really amazing story im glad i heard about him
Absolutely love any videos of my beloved Nordiques !
Fondly remember how good Tardif was , especially in the WHA .
The Stastny brothers story and coming to Quebec was incredible .
Thank you for shaking out some cobwebs in the old cabbage .
More Nordiques videos , please .
Mush love brotha ...
I live in the US but loved the Nordiques: Marc, Buddy, JC, etc. What a franchise!
@@ProHockeyAlumni I live on the prairies 🇨🇦 . As far from french / Quebec as possible .
The team just grabbed my heart for some reason . To this day , still have a dislike for the Wpg Jest . That's what I've always called them .
I live an hour from Winterpeg .
So many names / memories ...
I wanted Fogarty to be a star .
Did not mind the rough and tumble , just not a fan of Goonery .
Quebec and playoff hockey ...
Hockey at it's best , in this old man's bifocal wearing 👀 .
Great video spotlighting a truly remarkable player who deserved much more recognition for his excellence.
Thank you for your comment and for recognizing Marc's talents.
Love watching hockey highlights from the 70's. It brings back pleasant memories of my childhood while playing pond hockey after school and skating until darkness. Today, in the Northeast, winters are so mild that ice is never frozen. I'm glad I grew up back then.
I'm with ya ... we grew up in the greatest of times, for a multitude of reasons.
I've got some of his cards from the 70s.
No doubt, a great hockey talent. I have been saying this for years, just as important as the blood flowing through our veins, timing, timing is exactly the same and just as important. Well done Hockey allumni. JD
Thanks, JD! well said.
Please bring back my Nordiques... I was 22 when they left and never got a chance to see them live at the Colisee...
I had the fortune of watching Marc many times when he played junior for the Thetford Canadiens. Houle and Perreault were great, but I think Marc had the most natural talent of the three. Many times, he seemed to be coasting on the ice, but whenever he WANTED to score a goal, he could start from in back of his net and go through the whole opposing team. Another small anecdote : There was a huge, plastic, Laurentide beer sign way up on the wall in back of the net of the Thetford arena and Marc was the only one who succeeded in putiing a hole in it with one of his slapshots. What a player!
great anecdotes, Dennis. Greatly appreciate you sharing these memories!
@@ProHockeyAlumni 25 cents to watch the games. Ice level, diectly behind the nets, standing behind metal screen, literally inches between me and players. Cool times! Back then in the Ligue Junior A, I saw dozens and dozens of players who later on ended up in the NHL. Shawinigan Bruins, Sorel Black Hawks, Drummondville Rangers, Trois-Rivières Leafs, Thetford Mines Canadiens are the teams I remember. To name a few players just off the bat : Houle, Tardif, Perreault, Rogie Vachon, Richard Martin, René Robert, Philip Myre, Gilles Gilbert, Michel Dumas, Gilles Gilbert, André Dupont, Ron Fournier, Serge Bernier and more who ended up in the WHL. When I think back it's like ''Pinch me!''
Watched him when he was a Jr. Canadien and agree he looked lazy although he could seem to turn it on whenever he wanted.
What an excellent video. Thank you for sharing!
This was an excellent story I really appreciate learning about it, and about Mr. Tardiff.
Thanks JM ... Glad you found value in Marc's story.
I was 12 years old when I saw this.I thought Marc was dead after hitting head.off the ice.I was happy to see that they met in person.
I'm so glad I came across this video. Can't wait to watch more!
Well, I'm real glad you found us. You made my day!
Thank you!
Absolutely a hall of famer
Now thats Hockey !!
I remember Marc Tardif when he started his NHL career with the Canadians but I do not remember the brawl which led to his serious injury. Thanks for the documentary, I believe if he has stayed in the NHL he would have been a hall of famer.
Thanks Frank ... he would have been lethal with Lemaire and Lafleur.
@@ProHockeyAlumni Does Canadian teams from 75-76 to 78 -79, love to see him playing with Yvan Cournoyer, the fastest player in his day. It's Cournoyer on a breakaway seemed like 3 times a game
I still recall hearing the radio broadcast in Chicago as a kid circa 1972 when Tardif fought Phil Russel at the old stadium, announcer Lloyd Pettit with the call.
Phil was a tough customer -- with an excellent skill level.
I think it was his rookie year, he teamed up with Magnuson but that WHA was a vicious league, I still can't believe they didn't wear helmets back then.
Best channel ever!
Thanks, Pal!
Another great video - awesome thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate the feedback.
Awesome
30 plus years is a long time to wait for I'm sorry for what I did to you. Hall of fame,...why isn't he already there?
Thank you
👍 you are welcome
Great story
Glad you enjoyed it ... THX!
Fantastic channel
Great profile. Sounds like it was narrated by the sports announcer Johnny Morris.
Wow! Thanks.
thanks for this, I remember seeing Mark play
Very good video. Saw clips of brawl I never saw before. I remember seeing clips of the brawl on Cleveland sportscast during news at that time. I grew up in that area a fan of the Crusaders.
Great Channel i’m new to it and i also subscribed today!! I loved your documentary on Don Murdoch i remember him as a kid and your story on him was very insightful about him and i’m glad Murdoch straighten his life out.
Sad story but I am glad that they had a chance to meet again and I don't doubt Jadzio was sorry.
Used to be a hardcore fan back in the 70s, listening to Dan Kelly out of KMOX in St. Louis and Jerry Trupiano at KTRH Houston.
Now that I have access to numerous hockey games I'm no longer a big fan, but I wish I was.
Very well done. I know very little about Hockey, but this was great to watch and learn. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! And I greatly appreciate the feedback!
Love these podcast A1 excellent
Thank you 🙏 very much appreciated!
Marc Tardif was a great player speed , skill great hands what happen to him was just awful that must of been tough when they got together many years latter !!!
I love your channel... this was another horrible horrible incident Tardif was a great player ....
Thanks for this great piece. I am a much newer hockey fan, starting my interest in hockey in mid 80's with the Edmonton Oilers. This is a great piece and very educational. This demonstrates that we can all learn from our mistakes and make peace with those whom our previous actions hurt.
Thanks for watching, MO ... I greatly appreciate your feedback. THX!
It took 31 years. How sorry do you think he really was?
You have an AMAZING channel
Thanks Aces ... real glad you have found value in it.
Alan Globenski actually played here in Maine for a bit with the Maine Nordiques. I actually played some mens league with both Alan and Reyjean Trembley. Brings back some great memories.
Al is a great guy ... my podcast with him can be found on this Channel. THX!
Forgiveness is perhaps the greatest of human virtues.
Great history and storytelling as always, thank you!!
Thank you ES! I appreciate the comment.
Wow i love every second of it thank you
Thanks, my friend!
@@ProHockeyAlumni i have the previlege to talk with m maurice filion at his home a few years ago and tslk about those days it was surreal
An excellent story well told. Thanks a lot
Thanks, Rene ... I appreciate your comment and thanks for watching.
Great story, well told. These are the type of sports stories that need more recognition. Much appreciated that you spotlighted a mostly forgotten story. Your assessment that Tardif is underappreciated is true, he didn't get the full exposure he deserved because of how the NHL till this day pretends the WHA didn't exist. Give us a break. Tardif should be in the hockey HOF, maybe he is, I'm not sure.
Great insights … thank you for sharing 🙏
Your stories bring back so many memories. I love this channel.
Happy to have you with us ... I appreciate your support, Espo!
I was a huge hockey fan as a boy - I watched Orr and Espo dominate, and the Canadians fly... and then, The Flyers age arrived. Even as a boy of 12, I was disgusted, and before it was over, I stopped watching hockey; I couldn't stand the disgusting tactics used to "win". (I guess it REALLY started in 1972, when Clarke broke Kharlamov's ankle in The Summit Series...) I came back to the game in the 80's when skill started to dominate again above injuring people to "win"; THEY never WON anything, in my opinion, other than our disrespect. I wouldn't give a person like Bobby Clarke the time of day, still. Sick, twisted person, and I don't care WHERE he got it or HOW he was trained or WHY he was the way he was... There is no excuse, because, SOMEHOW, many, MANY players played through that same era, WITHOUT turning into ghouls, monsters, on ice. No, they didn't have to be that way; it was a decision. Thank you for the video.
I was just getting into watching hockey when Montreal played the Flyers for the cup in 1976. I thought that it might be close but now looking at the replays I'm happy to see they won in 4 straight. The sports announcer terrified me of what they might do to my fav team. Wonder whether the summit series may have turned out differently if Kharlamov could play.
Agree with ALL that you stated.i actually admired the Flyers work ethic until that sick display against the Russians...many were Haopy a few months later when the Canadiens swept the thug flyers. .and like you said, the thugs never won anything again....but what upsets me is a lot of videos on you tube seems to glorify the Flyers thug tactics vs the Russians.and reading the comments made me sick. Ppl actually thought it was ' cool' that they bullied the russians- even the announcers, ' they're leaving' like making fun of them.....sick it was justice that the flyers got swept by the Habs.justice.
@spartacusnow Your point?
@spartacusnow Seems you really completely missed the message. No matter. Cheers.
What was the WHA's television coverage like in the 1970s? It's weird how this is one of the most controversial hits in hockey history, and there's all kinds of video from the series and directly after the hit, but not the hit itself. However, that may be for the best.
Impressive that Tardif was able to rebound to have the rest of the career that he had.
Sparse … often just news reels and coaches films
It was almost non existent but in many ways so was the NHL. You has Saturday Night hockey and sometimes Wednesday Night and if you paid for cable which was expensive back then you had 1 American game a week on Saturday. (Usually The Rangers)
What a fight. Poor guy. Glad he was able to recover.
great video you put a lot of work there very appreciate
Thanks, Charley … yes, this was a bit of a back breaker … appreciate your feedback 💪
Excellent short documentary. Well done. I’ve subscribed.
Much appreciated! Glad to have you with us!
Wow, amazing story. I heard about Tardif, of course, but I didn't know about this terrible case... Many thanks, already subscribed to your channel.
Welcome aboard! and thank you!
Words escape me so all I can say is fantastic video! I was a 14 year old hockey fan when this happened and remember the news of it back then like it was yesterday.
Thanks, Billy ... I'm glad you enjoyed it. t's a video I've wanted to create for a while and I really wanted to get deep in to the detail. THX!
Thanks for this blast from the past. I can’t recall seeing Tardif play bc I never watched the WHA bc it was basically a goon show. Tho, 2 great goalies such as “King” Richard Brodeur and John Garrett both ended up with the Canucks in the 80’s. Clearly, he was a special player and should be in the HHOF. Just watching him from those low res videos, his play was effortless, like Mario Lemieux.
Excellent thoughts on Marc ... thanks for watching!
I love your editorial. Truly masterful.
Thank you! I greatly appreciate the feedback and support!
I just discovered this channel, and I got to say it's pretty incredible, well done on the videos they are amazing.
Welcome aboard! Glad you found us and these classic hockey stories.
How he makes the effort to express himself in English and is so open and honest just shows his incredible character. Part of the cause for why the cowboys felt it was acceptable behaviour I have little doubt was French prejudice.
This was an ugly moment in hockey ... a real low point.
@@ProHockeyAlumni - Yes, but that moment at the dealership was one of its high points for sure! Loved it, thanks!
Another excellent job! I sometimes wish all the Canadian teams were in their own league. I'm from Winnipeg and I doubt I'll ever see them win anything other than an Avco Cup.
Odds are against a Cup in WPG in our lifetimes ... Thanks for watching.
not as long as that anti canadian prikk bettman is running the nhl. frowned during winnipeg presser as thrash move was announced. total jakk ass.
Fantastic man as usual👍 Im always eagerly awaiting your next video and You never disappoint brother 👌
Thanks, my man ... fewer people watch these days but I hang in there for true fans like you!
Pro Hockey Alumni and i really do appreciate it man👍 thank you
Absolutely love your channel, keep up the good work from Australia! 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thanks so much, Mate!
You’re welcome 😁
I absolutely love your page, just watched the Don Murdoch video, amazing work. Truly a hockey historian! Thanks
Thanks, Dave ... I greatly appreciate your feedback. Love the hard-core fans like you.
@@ProHockeyAlumni no thank you brother, finally a hockey page i can get behind!
You don't ever, ever, ever hit another player in the head with your stick. Ever!
Rejean Houle one of the coolest hockey names
Not as a GM for many though. Ronald Corey was the #1 guy to blame though putting him in that spot without experience and cutting dramaticaly on scouting in the mid-90's when Serge Savard left.