Warning: Moose is on the loose again

13 April 2012

How quickly can anyone make an impact in a sporting event? Tottenham's Ledley King needed only 10 seconds to score against Bradford last week to set a Premiership record.

Chelsea's Vinnie Jones was booked after just three seconds for a foul on a Sheffield United player during an FA Cup match in 1992.

And Dave 'The Moose' Morissette took a mere 10 seconds to start swapping punches with an opponent.

Morissette, a Canadian, is the 6ft 1in enforcer of the Evening Standard London Knights ice hockey team and his early altercation was with Clayton Norris, of the Cardiff Devils, who was widely regarded as the toughest player in Britain. Until Morissette arrived on the scene.

Their early skirmish was just the first of several during the game and they clashed again a week later in Cardiff, when Morissette was sent off.

As he left the ice, Norris made hand gestures to Morissette and "the Moose" had to be held back by his team-mates from attacking the Devils forward.

So you have been warned what to expect tonight, when the Knights and the Devils meet for the fourth time in 17 days.

Not that Morissette and Norris are the only protagonists. The three previous clashes between the teams have seen the referees handing out a total of 532 minutes of penalties. Knights' Claude Jutras and Devils' Mike Ware are still serving suspensions after each received four-game bans for fighting and gross misconduct during an altercation at Cardiff's Ice House on 2 December.

But it is Morissette's antics which are being lapped up by Knights fans. Described by head coach Chris McSorley as the kind of player who would throw old ladies in front of cars to get his own way, Morissette has built up a big following, with the London fans calling "Moose" every time he takes to the ice.

The 28-year-old from Quebec, who played in the NHL for the Montreal Canadians two seasons ago, said: "I can score too but I like the rough play. I've been playing this style for the whole of my career. Nothing stupid but just clean hits. Sometimes you have to drop the gloves - that's what it's all about.

"I spoke to Chris McSorley this summer as I knew of Chris as a coach from playing against him. I've always thought, 'He's the kind of coach for me. I love the way he always has tough teams.

"This year I started the season with Louisiana but things didn't work out there and I guess they dropped me because of the money. So I called Chris back, and here I am.

"I could have gone to Vancouver or Colorado but I wanted to come here as it would be a new experience for me. I talked to Chris and he said the hockey was really good over here.

"And now I've played I can say that the calibre of hockey here is unbelievable. You have no rookies, it's all guys who know what to do. It's awesome."

McSorley feels the signing of Morissette releases in-form Jutras to play his more natural game.

He said: "Claude's been doing the battling for everybody since he came here, and this takes the pressure off Claude to go out and be the enforcer. Dave Morissette will keep butts on seats and will deter the opposition from running us out of our own building. He's a key addition."

Morissette also enjoys his role in the team. He said: "I just play my game and when stuff happens it happens. I've been doing this all my life, I love what I do and I'm having fun. I like yelling at the guys. That's what gets me going. Some guys like the feeling after a goal - I like it too - but I love what I do and I just hope I'll be doing it until I'm 40."

Knights welcome back Mikko Koivunoro from injury for tonight's game.

? London Knights v Cardiff Devils (face-off 7pm). Tickets: Tel. 020 7538 1212.

MORE ABOUT

Cardiff City Fc

Warning: Moose is on the loose again

Read More