NHL Video: 20 Shortest Fuses in Hockey History

Sports are very black and white: either you're winning or you're losing, or either things are going well or they aren't.

If you're on the tail end of either of those, the emotions get very heated. That's why there are so many angry moments in sports.

However, some people have shorter fuses than others.

Hockey definitely has had its share of those personalities, including many current figures in the NHL.

Here are the 20 shortest fuses in hockey history, including video evidence of their quick tempers.  

Dale Hunter

Retired player Dale Hunter had quite the reputation of a cheap-shot artist during his NHL career, with instances like the video shows. 

It takes a short fuse to be a cheap-shot artist and Hunter definitely had a very short fuse. 

Claude Lemieux

Claude Lemieux is another former player who had a reputation for being dirty during his playing career.

In fact, imagine how different the Colorado Avalanche-Detroit Red Wings would have been if Lemieux hadn't had such a short fuse and decided to cheap-shot Kris Draper. 

Dino Ciccarelli

Dino Ciccarelli is a Hall of Fame-inducted player, but he was known for his temper on the ice too.

During his career, Ciccarelli attacked a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Luke Richardson, with his stick. He was convicted of assault and fined $1,000, as well as sentenced to a day in jail.

It takes a very short fuse to do that. 

Chris Simon

Chris Simon is notorious throughout the NHL for being a dirty player.

In 2007, Simon was given the longest suspension in NHL history, 30 games, for stomping on Jarkko Ruutu's leg.

It was the seventh suspension in his career and the second one for more than 20 games. 

Trevor Gillies

Trevor Gillies has only played 54 games in the NHL, playing for the New York Islanders, but he has already gained notoriety around the league.

Gillies has already been suspended 19 games in his career for two separate incidents, one for a cheap shot on the Pittsburgh Penguins' Eric Tangradi and one for a hit on Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck. 

He obviously has a very short fuse. 

Chris Pronger

Chris Pronger is a conflicting personality. On the one hand, he's currently one of the best defensemen in the league.

On the other hand, he's easy to dislike, for some things he does on the ice and his personality off the ice. 

He definitely has a short fuse, as evidenced by this stomp on Ryan Kesler. 

Marty McSorley

Marty McSorley is one of the most notorious players in hockey history. His notoriety has transcended just hockey and into all sports too.

McSorley viciously attacked Donald Brashear in 2000, swinging his stick at Brashear's head. 

That's a prime example of a short fuse. 

Todd Bertuzzi

Another vicious attack in hockey history and sports in general was Todd Bertuzzi's sucker punch on the unsuspecting Steve Moore.

Bertuzzi did that as revenge for a hit from Moore on Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund.

That's a really short fuse for that to be the act of revenge.  

Ray Emery

While fighting is a part of hockey, generally goaltenders are not the players to partake in those fights, particularly in this day and age.

Ray Emery didn't get that memo though, engaging in multiple fights in his career.

He certainly has a short fuse, but we should be grateful for that since he's given us video gems like this one in which he is trying to fight his team's own trainer. 

Mike Milbury

I think we can all agree that Mike Milbury is flat-out insane. 

He was insane when he was a player, climbing into the stands and beating a fan with his own shoe. He was insane when he was standing in the tunnel berating a linesman.

And he's still insane now, as a TV analyst.

Brian Burke

Brian Burke is a terrifying man. 

He's not generally a screaming lunatic, but some of his facial expressions can stop you dead in your tracks. 

He can get upset very easily sometimes too, hence his inclusion on this list. 

Ron Hextall

Ron Hextall is one of the biggest badasses in hockey and sports history. There's no other word to fittingly describe him.

Hextall definitely had a short fuse. 

He didn't put up with anything and he wasn't afraid to drop the gloves and let you know it. 

Steve Downie

Steve Downie has only spent a few seasons in the NHL, but he has already been suspended quite a few times.

One of those suspensions is among only the handful that were 20 games or more. Downie received 20 games for targeting the head of Dean McAmmond in 2007.

All those were a result of a quick temper. 

Sean Avery

Obviously, Sean Avery is known for doing a lot of questionable things on and off the ice.

The easiest explanation for Avery's behavior is to just say that he has a short fuse and can't control himself from doing those questionable things. 

Bruce Boudreau

Last year on HBO 24/7: Road to the Winter Classic, Bruce Boudreau made a name for himself for a four-letter-word filled rant, which showed everyone he has a temper.

However, anyone who has watched the Washington Capitals on a regular basis has seen Boudreau get very animated on the bench.

Boudreau is an emotional guy with a short fuse. 

Pat Burns

The late Pat Burns was an excellent coach.

He had a temper though too, as he shows during this Montreal Canadiens-Toronto Maple Leafs game. 

Don Cherry

Don Cherry is known for two things: his crazy, flamboyant attire and his rants during Coach's Corner on Hockey Night in Canada.

Basically, he's known for being a short fuse. 

Ron Wilson

Like his general manager, Brian Burke, Ron Wilson can be a terrifying man.

Sometimes, Wilson screams and goes nuts, but other times it's his silent manner and facial expressions that make him so terrifying. 

Lindy Ruff

Lindy Ruff is definitely a short fuse waiting to go off at any moment. There are countless videos that document this.

Here's one of them.  

John Tortorella

The most famous and shortest fuse of them all has to be New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella.

There could be many videos to prove this, in case you live under a rock and have never seen proof on your own.

Luckily though, there are videos like this one that compile 10 of his angry moments.