Behns the kindest athlete I’ve EVER met, and I met him twice. He definitely had a soft spot for kids, and this Chicago Blackhawks fan will always hold #23 as one of my all time favorites. Thanks Behn.
Excellent interview, it's really an honor to listen to these stories and insights, Wilson is a hockey intellect with such a colorful and intriguing career and Ricky brings out his best.
Excellent interview. This guy was hated by Islander fans like me at that time but I always respected him. I will buy that book. Thank you for this interview Sir. I really love this channel.
That was enjoyable. I remember one incident that may have led to Behn's trade to Chicago was when he used his stick against an opponent and he hit Tim Kerr instead, opening up a nasty gash on his schnoz. The Philly boo-birds were not too kind.
The sucker punches came at the end of the fight when the two officials, Koharski was one, allowed Tiger to get his left hand free from gripping Wilson's sweater behind his neck.
I am 60 and my first memories of the NHL were the 1972 finals between the Rangers and the Bruins. Barely remember much of it but by 74 I was all in and watched the Flyers win their first of two cups. I became an Islanders fan but I actually rooted for the Flyers to beat the Canadiens in 76. They just weren't as good, no one was that year.
Kind of scary the way he talks about the Hilworth fight. I expected him to say he didn't know Hilworth was out when he hit him on the ice. He clearly says "I knew he's was unconscious and I hit him some more because that's the easiest way to hit a guy!!". This guy is flat out mean!
My late cousin Richie Kraljic worked for the Rangers from 1965 to 1978 and was from Hells Kitchen and knew Tom Mullen and his boys Kenny, Tom, Joey, and Brian. Emile Francis in 1965 outside the old Garden saw Richie and his buddies playing roller hockey with a soda can and he befriended Richie and hired his initially as a gofer. Richie worked for a pharmacist on 10th avenue and then worked for the Rangers. Fergie came in January of 1976 and in his book Thunder and Lightning wrote about Richie on 5 pages calling him his best NY Pal and they owned race horses together. When Fergie was fired in 1978 Richie quit in rage and never spoke of the Rangers again. In the spring of 1994 my Aunt died and the Rangers were heading for a possible Cup. I see Richie and offer my condolences for his Mom and see his Dad Uncle Mike and brought up the Rangers and he put his hand up and said they are dead to me. I saw his older brother my cousin John and said he's still pissed at the Rangers and he said Fergie is his buddy Richie is loyal! Ironically in 1999 my cousin dropped dead at the Meadowlands of a heart attack at age 52 and I looked up Fergie online and found him and Joan in Windsor and called him and told him what happened! When Fergie moved to Winnipeg he asked Richie to come but he was a New Yorker and didn't go and had a good job at the pharmacy! Until he died of cancer in 2007 every Christmas Fergie and Joan would send me a card. One was half in french and one in english. Fergie also gave my Uncle Mike a job after he was forced to retire at 65 from Horn and Hardart. My Uncle would dress in a suit and tie and be the doorman to the media and visiting players entrance and my Dad met Marv Albert, great guy, Jim Gordon half in the bag and the Big Whistle and John Halligan was the best what a funny man! Emile Francis just passed way and what a nice man also. In 1972 Richie for me a free copy of Park and Gilbert's book Playing Hockey the Professional Way that I still have and they signed it best regards to me. Emile Francis made a mistake and wrote to Richie, the very best Emile Francis! I still have a never used Bobby Orr stick from the 1973 all star game at MSG! My godfather was from Staten Island and his 4 boys went to Msr Farrell or New Dorp. Stevie now age 68 knew Nick Fotiu!
@@Hockeyworldorder Thank you Mr Francis and Ferguson were great men honest and tough in different ways. I called my Aunt's one time looking for my cousin and she said John you just missed him he left with Fergie for the track. Fergie a typical policeman vicious on the ice and a nice man off the ice and smart. In 1971 he retired along with Beliveau but Sam Pollock wanted him to stay and be the first English Team Captain his impact was that great from 1963 with 5 Cups in 6 finals in 8 years. He was usually a 3rd line guy with Backstrom and Provost but also good enough to move up with Beliveau and the Roadrunner.
Interesting interview. He didn't seem to think too much of either the Fotiu fight or the Wendel Clark fight. Fotiu on the one hand it seemed like he did remember the fight, but didn't feel like there was a big advantage either way, so no reason to fight again. The Clark fight it seemed like he didn't remember at all, which is crazy because that fight was epic and is famous!!! He only remembered one Clark fight (there was a less epic second fight), and his comment was that he was sick and it wasn't much of a fight. He clearly is thinking of a different guy and a different fight
The one guy who owned Behn Wilson was the toughest guy that Tim Hunter always says he faced by far. One Nick Fotiu who was not really a fighter but in 1979 was 5 and 0 against the Flyers. He broke Jim Cunningham's orbital bone, he beat Paul Holmgren bad in Philly and right before the 1979 playoffs beat Behn Wilson bad in Philly. In the 1979 playoffs Fotiu sat out game 1 and the Rangers lost 3-2 in overtime. Fred Shero dressed Nick the last 4 games and the Rangers outscored the Flyers 26 to 5 with no brawls. In the 6 to 0 game at the Garden in the 3rd period Fotiu came out running around and hit like 6 Flyers as as he was heading to the bench spotted Wilson and went over in front of the Flyers bench and got right in Behn's face who took it! Then in the 1982 playoffs Fotiu did it again in the corner in the Flyers zone. Robbie McClanahan was hit late by Wilson and Fotiu came flying in and again got right in Wilson's face nose to nose and Behn calmed right down. Tommy Laidlaw and Frank Bathe were next to Nick and I asked Laidlaw and he said yeah Wilson wanted no part of Nicky! Greschner used to talk about that and Duguay on Laidlaw's podcast. Fotiu played 11 playoff games against the Flyers in 79, 82, and 83 and the Flyers won 1 and the Rangers won 10 and the Rangers outscored the Flyers 63 to 29 with Nick Fotiu in the lineup in the playoffs with no brawls. Nick Fotiu owned Behn Wilson!
Excellent synopsis!, Behn skated on egg shells when nick was on the ice. I even remember a time, when Nick I think on Calgary and Behn on Chicago were on the ice. A scrum ensued, Behn was a awfully tame, didn't even look at nick during the scrum.
Did Nick Fotiu ever confirm this or is this just you watching video and interpreting what you saw? What did they actually say to each other? Did Fotiu drop the gloves and Wilson skated away? How much ice time did Fotiu get during those series and how many points did he score? You want to give Fotiu direct credit for their wins then back it up with Nicki's stats and ice time. Nobody wants to take dumb penalties during a playoff game. I like Nicki, his whole story about how he got to the NHL and the fact that he's a really good dude but you're conclusions about his influence in those games is overtly exaggerated imo.
I don’t think you can say he owned him. They fought one time and it was hardly a beat down. Bert Wilson of the L.A. Kings beat Behn but that doesn’t mean he owned him.
Behns the kindest athlete I’ve EVER met, and I met him twice. He definitely had a soft spot for kids, and this Chicago Blackhawks fan will always hold #23 as one of my all time favorites. Thanks Behn.
Great guy we loved him in the BlackHawks
Such a great interview!! Behn is such a legend and it’s great to hear these stories and him reminisce. Thanks very much!
Excellent interview, it's really an honor to listen to these stories and insights, Wilson is a hockey intellect with such a colorful and intriguing career and Ricky brings out his best.
Excellent interview. This guy was hated by Islander fans like me at that time but I always respected him. I will buy that book. Thank you for this interview Sir. I really love this channel.
Thanks Fellas ! Great stuff !
Our pleasure!
Can't wait for the Holt interview.
Great interview.
That Patrick division was the best. I really miss that old NHL OF THE 70'S, 80'S AND EARLY 90'S....
That was enjoyable. I remember one incident that may have led to Behn's trade to Chicago was when he used his stick against an opponent and he hit Tim Kerr instead, opening up a nasty gash on his schnoz. The Philly boo-birds were not too kind.
Behn fought Derrell Switzer 3 times in his first Flyers training camp. He was also certainly not suckered by Tiger Williams lol. Great interview.
Did you see the camp fights ? Give a recap
@ didn’t see them. I know Wilson won one decisively and Switzer got hurt in the other. I’ll see what else I can find from that camp and exho season.
The sucker punches came at the end of the fight when the two officials, Koharski was one, allowed Tiger to get his left hand free from gripping Wilson's sweater behind his neck.
Wish you would’ve asked him about his fight against Bert Wilson when Bert was a King. He had very fast hands and I thought got the better of Behn.
I am 60 and my first memories of the NHL were the 1972 finals between the Rangers and the Bruins. Barely remember much of it but by 74 I was all in and watched the Flyers win their first of two cups. I became an Islanders fan but I actually rooted for the Flyers to beat the Canadiens in 76. They just weren't as good, no one was that year.
I just subscribed great interview!
Kind of scary the way he talks about the Hilworth fight. I expected him to say he didn't know Hilworth was out when he hit him on the ice. He clearly says "I knew he's was unconscious and I hit him some more because that's the easiest way to hit a guy!!". This guy is flat out mean!
I was shocked
My late cousin Richie Kraljic worked for the Rangers from 1965 to 1978 and was from Hells Kitchen and knew Tom Mullen and his boys Kenny, Tom, Joey, and Brian. Emile Francis in 1965 outside the old Garden saw Richie and his buddies playing roller hockey with a soda can and he befriended Richie and hired his initially as a gofer. Richie worked for a pharmacist on 10th avenue and then worked for the Rangers.
Fergie came in January of 1976 and in his book Thunder and Lightning wrote about Richie on 5 pages calling him his best NY Pal and they owned race horses together. When Fergie was fired in 1978 Richie quit in rage and never spoke of the Rangers again. In the spring of 1994 my Aunt died and the Rangers were heading for a possible Cup. I see Richie and offer my condolences for his Mom and see his Dad Uncle Mike and brought up the Rangers and he put his hand up and said they are dead to me. I saw his older brother my cousin John and said he's still pissed at the Rangers and he said Fergie is his buddy Richie is loyal!
Ironically in 1999 my cousin dropped dead at the Meadowlands of a heart attack at age 52 and I looked up Fergie online and found him and Joan in Windsor and called him and told him what happened! When Fergie moved to Winnipeg he asked Richie to come but he was a New Yorker and didn't go and had a good job at the pharmacy!
Until he died of cancer in 2007 every Christmas Fergie and Joan would send me a card. One was half in french and one in english. Fergie also gave my Uncle Mike a job after he was forced to retire at 65 from Horn and Hardart. My Uncle would dress in a suit and tie and be the doorman to the media and visiting players entrance and my Dad met Marv Albert, great guy, Jim Gordon half in the bag and the Big Whistle and John Halligan was the best what a funny man!
Emile Francis just passed way and what a nice man also. In 1972 Richie for me a free copy of Park and Gilbert's book Playing Hockey the Professional Way that I still have and they signed it best regards to me.
Emile Francis made a mistake and wrote to Richie, the very best Emile Francis!
I still have a never used Bobby Orr stick from the 1973 all star game at MSG!
My godfather was from Staten Island and his 4 boys went to Msr Farrell or New Dorp. Stevie now age 68 knew Nick Fotiu!
Loyalty is a great quality!! Rest in peace Richie
@@Hockeyworldorder Thank you Mr Francis and Ferguson were great men honest and tough in different ways. I called my Aunt's one time looking for my cousin and she said John you just missed him he left with Fergie for the track. Fergie a typical policeman vicious on the ice and a nice man off the ice and smart. In 1971 he retired along with Beliveau but Sam Pollock wanted him to stay and be the first English Team Captain his impact was that great from 1963 with 5 Cups in 6 finals in 8 years. He was usually a 3rd line guy with Backstrom and Provost but also good enough to move up with Beliveau and the Roadrunner.
Interesting interview. He didn't seem to think too much of either the Fotiu fight or the Wendel Clark fight. Fotiu on the one hand it seemed like he did remember the fight, but didn't feel like there was a big advantage either way, so no reason to fight again. The Clark fight it seemed like he didn't remember at all, which is crazy because that fight was epic and is famous!!! He only remembered one Clark fight (there was a less epic second fight), and his comment was that he was sick and it wasn't much of a fight. He clearly is thinking of a different guy and a different fight
Can you possibly get Mr. Dave Tiger Williams and or Bob Nystrom ?
I agree the game is so soft and terrible to watch with no hitting or fighting. Great interview with one of toughest player in his era.
Get on Nick Fotiu and ask him about Behn Wilson!
Nick is injured pretty bad right now
@@Hockeyworldorder What happened to him?????
@@michaeld.4521 I see Nick all the time with his wife all dressed up standing by the glass to the right of the Rangers end in the 1st and 3rd period!
Had trouble hearing Ricky's voice in the interview. Heard Behn fine.
The one guy who owned Behn Wilson was the toughest guy that Tim Hunter always says he faced by far. One Nick Fotiu who was not really a fighter but in 1979 was 5 and 0 against the Flyers.
He broke Jim Cunningham's orbital bone, he beat Paul Holmgren bad in Philly and right before the 1979 playoffs beat Behn Wilson bad in Philly.
In the 1979 playoffs Fotiu sat out game 1 and the Rangers lost 3-2 in overtime. Fred Shero dressed Nick the last 4 games and the Rangers outscored the Flyers 26 to 5 with no brawls. In the 6 to 0 game at the Garden in the 3rd period Fotiu came out running around and hit like 6 Flyers as as he was heading to the bench spotted Wilson and went over in front of the Flyers bench and got right in Behn's face who took it!
Then in the 1982 playoffs Fotiu did it again in the corner in the Flyers zone. Robbie McClanahan was hit late by Wilson and Fotiu came flying in and again got right in Wilson's face nose to nose and Behn calmed right down. Tommy Laidlaw and Frank Bathe were next to Nick and I asked Laidlaw and he said yeah Wilson wanted no part of Nicky! Greschner used to talk about that and Duguay on Laidlaw's podcast.
Fotiu played 11 playoff games against the Flyers in 79, 82, and 83 and the Flyers won 1 and the Rangers won 10 and the Rangers outscored the Flyers 63 to 29 with Nick Fotiu in the lineup in the playoffs with no brawls.
Nick Fotiu owned Behn Wilson!
Not the place for that comment - enjoy the interview or move on. Behn Wilson is often listed in the top 3 all time . Far ahead of fagtiu!
Excellent synopsis!, Behn skated on egg shells when nick was on the ice. I even remember a time, when Nick I think on Calgary and Behn on Chicago were on the ice. A scrum ensued, Behn was a awfully tame, didn't even look at nick during the scrum.
Did Nick Fotiu ever confirm this or is this just you watching video and interpreting what you saw? What did they actually say to each other? Did Fotiu drop the gloves and Wilson skated away? How much ice time did Fotiu get during those series and how many points did he score? You want to give Fotiu direct credit for their wins then back it up with Nicki's stats and ice time. Nobody wants to take dumb penalties during a playoff game. I like Nicki, his whole story about how he got to the NHL and the fact that he's a really good dude but you're conclusions about his influence in those games is overtly exaggerated imo.
I don’t think you can say he owned him. They fought one time and it was hardly a beat down. Bert Wilson of the L.A. Kings beat Behn but that doesn’t mean he owned him.
@@JohnRatomski .....lol
sling blade