Hospodar, Ed

Ed Hospodar was selected 34th overall in the second round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. Hospodar played two years in the OHA with the Ottawa 67's and was a member of the 1977 team that advanced to the Memorial Cup final, before losing 6-5 to Barry Beck and the New Westminster Bruins of the WHL. In 113 games with the 67's, Hospodar scored just ten goals while racking up 312 minutes in penalties.

It was apparent the Rangers selected Hospodar to police their defense. Hospodar played 20 games with the Rangers in 1979-80, but his first full season came the following year when he played in 61 games and was assessed 214 minutes in penalties. In 1981-82, Hospodar was used sparingly, seeing game action only when the Rangers felt there would be need for extra muscle in the lineup. One such game occurred in 1982, when Hospodar dressed for a game against the crosstown rival, and defending Stanley Cup champion Islanders. It was clear from the drop of the puck that Hospodar's mandate was to annoy the Islanders' Clark Gillies, something most opponents did with extreme caution. After a series of taunts, Gillies took Hospodar up on his offer to fight, and it's something Hospodar probably ended up regretting. Gillies quickly destroyed Hospodar in a one-sided fight that left the fans at the Madison Square Garden sitting in total silent disbelief.

After three years in New York, Hospodar joined the Hartford Whalers for two seasons where he scored just once while picking up 362 minutes in penalties. In 1984-85, Hospodar joined the Philadelphia Flyers. It was during the post-season, during the Wales Conference finals in Montreal, that a bizarre pre-game brawl erupted at the end of the warmup. The Flyers decided they were going to prevent a pre-game ritual by the Canadiens, in which they routinely shot a puck into the opposing team's empty net. As most players from both teams were heading to their respective dressing rooms, Flyers' backup goalie Glenn Resch threw his stick at the puck heading towards the empty net. Almost simultaneously, Hospodar and Montreal's Shayne Corson began throwing the fists in a spirited battle.

Within moments, both teams were engaged in a full-scale brawl. When it was all over, officials handed out $24,000 in fines. The Flyers went on to win the series and advance to the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost in five games to the Edmonton Oilers. That spring, Hospodar also found himself in hot water with the likes of Edmonton tough guys Dave Semenko and Kevin McClelland, who were itching to get a piece of Hospodar after he levelled Mark Napier in a game.

Hospodar was also once involved in a nasty spearing incident while playing against the Quebec Nordiques. His victim was Anton Stastny. Before the whistle had blown, for a penalty to be called, Stastny's brother, Peter, who was also on the ice at the time, charged right at Hospodar and cross-checked him as hard as he could across the back of the neck, sending the Flyer hitman hurtling to the ground in agony. Both players were ejected from the game.

Midway through the 1985-86 season, Hospodar was sent to the Minnesota North Stars, where he played out the season's last 43 games, picking up a pair of assists. Hospodar rejoined the Flyers the next season and again found himself playing in the Stanley Cup finals against the Edmonton Oilers. Although the series was much closer the second time, in the end the Oilers prevailed with a hard-fought seven-game victory.

In 1987-88, Hospodar joined the Buffalo Sabres for 42 games, collecting one assist and 42 minutes in penalties. He suited up for five games the next year with the Sabres' minor-league affiliate in Rochester, before hanging up the blades.

Ed Hospodar Career Statistics