The 1987-1988 Detroit Red Wings included five players who finished the season with 130 or more penalty minutes (Doug Halward, Lee Norwood, Gerard Gallant, Joey Kocur and Bob Probert). Their coach was a bit intense too.
Demers explained the above to the New York Times in 2005.
During one game when he was coaching the Red Wings, the opposing coach, Herb Brooks, of “Miracle on Ice” fame, taunted Mr. Demers as a “milk-truck driver.” Mr. Demers recalls getting so furious his players had to restrain him from climbing over a wall to get at Mr. Brooks. ”Believe me, there was no acting there,” he said. “That’s the violent side of me.”
