Dennis Polonich
Polonich in 2017.
Born (1953-12-04) December 4, 1953
Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 166 lb (75 kg; 11 st 12 lb)
Position Centre/Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Detroit Red Wings
NHL Draft 118th overall, 1973
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1973–1987

Dennis Daniel "Polo" Polonich (born December 4, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who spent his entire National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Detroit Red Wings. He was selected in the eighth round, 118th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft. Polonich was the first NHL player to be awarded damages from a civil suit for an on-ice incident.[1]

Playing career

Junior hockey

Standing only five feet, six inches, and while playing for the Flin Flon Bombers of the Western Canadian Hockey League, Polonich attracted attention of scouts by being a pest, antagonizing opposing players while scoring occasional goals. During the 1972–73 season Polonich was known for his relentless trash-talking, and racked up 222 penalty minutes along with 74 points. Polonich was drafted 118th by the Detroit Red Wings in 1973. However, the Wings wanted to see if Polonich could be as effective in a higher-level league, and sent him play a season with the London Lions in Britain. He impressed and was brought back for the 1974–75 season. Polonich signed his first professional contract with a $7,500 signing bonus and salary of $55,000 if he made the Detroit Red Wings, or $15,500 if he played in the minors.[2]

Professional hockey

In the 1974–75 season, Polonich joined the Virginia Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL). He led the Wings in penalty minutes, and his 34 points helped them reach the playoffs, where he was the team's leading scorer in their short playoff appearance. Towards the end of the regular season, Polonich joined the Red Wings for his first four NHL games, recording no points or penalty minutes. After a quick stint with the Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League (IHL), Polonich became a full-time Red Wing in the 1975–76 NHL season. The Red Wings were retooling, adding toughness and grit to their roster after a few disappointing seasons and Polonich fit the bill. Although small, Polonich brought an instant force to the team. Polonich set a club record on March 24, 1976 by sitting out eight penalties – five minors, a major and a misconduct. Polonich became the first rookie to be penalized more than 300 minutes in one season.[3]

"If I had stayed out of the box a little more, I might have scored 20 or 25 goals, you have to have a mighty long stick to score from the penalty box."

In the 1976–77 NHL season Polonich had a short tenure as captain of the Detroit Red Wings while Danny Grant was injured. He finished second in team scoring with 46 points and led the team (second in the league behind Tiger Williams) in penalty minutes with 274. He again led the team in penalty minutes the following season.

On October 25, 1978, Polonich got under the skin of the Colorado Rockies' Wilf Paiement. In what has been termed as the worst-ever case of brutality in the NHL, Paiement smashed the diminutive Polonich across the face with his stick, leaving Polonich with a concussion, severe facial lacerations, and a broken nose requiring reconstructive surgery. Paiement argued that Polonich had intentionally struck him with his stick in the follow-through of a slap shot.[4] Wayne County Prosecutor's Office investigated the incident and decided not to prosecute Paiement.[5] Polonich missed about 20 games due to the incident.[4]

In 1982, Polonich filed a civil suit against Paiement in U.S. Federal Court before Judge Horace Weldon Gilmore[6].[1] Prior to proceeding to court a Wayne County mediation panel recommended a settlement of $85,000, which Polonich accepted, however the Colorado Rockies' insurance company countered with $50,000 which Polonich refused.[4] Judge Gilmore did not allow evidence to be heard about Polonich's penalty-filled career and physical style of play.[6] Ultimately Polonich was awarded $500,000 for "pain and suffering" and $350,000 in punitive damages which would be paid by Paiement and not be covered by the Colorado Rockies' insurance.[4]

Polonich suffered from breathing problems for the remainder of his career. The Detroit Red Wings general ganager Ted Lindsay testified at the trial that Paiement hit Polonich with a baseball-type swing.[1] Wilf Paiement was fined $500 (the maximum permitted under NHL rules) and suspended by the NHL for 15 games,[1] the longest NHL suspension since the beginning of the "Original Six" era.

Polonich's career would taper off following the incident, playing just 109 more NHL games with 4 goals during that time, compared to the 55 goals in his previous 277 NHL games.[2]

After five and a half seasons with the Red Wings, Polonich was sent down to the AHL after the 1980–81 season and, besides 11 games in 1982, remained there. He helped the Adirondack Red Wings reach the playoffs twice, winning the Calder Cup in 1981, in the following four years before jumping to the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL. Polonich retired in 1987 one year after winning the Turner Cup.

Post-playing career

Following his retirement from professional hockey, Polonich was hired as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in the middle of the 1986-87 season, a position he held for six seasons.[2] Polonich was named the SJHL Coach of the Year in 1987-88, and with the Terriers lost the SJHL championship in the 1989-90 season, and followed that with a SJHL championship in 1990-91 and winning the ANAVET Cup.[2][7] Polonich made the jump to the Western Hockey League in 1992 when he was hired as the General Manager of the Medicine Hat Tigers. Polonich spent four seasons with the Tigers until he was hired on the Prince George Cougars as General Manager in 1996, a position he held for two seasons.

Polonich became a player agent following his hockey management career.

Polonich played in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic alumni game.[8]

Records

  • Red Wings club record: Sitting out eight penalties in one game - five minors, a major and a misconduct. (1976)

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1971–72 Flin Flon Bombers WCJHL 65 9 21 30 200 7 0 1 1 41
1972–73 Flin Flon Bombers WCJHL 68 26 48 74 222 9 1 5 6 38
1973–74 London Lions Britain 67 17 43 60 57 — — — — —
1974–75 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1974–75 Virginia Wings AHL 60 14 20 34 194 5 0 2 2 30
1975–76 Detroit Red Wings NHL 57 11 12 23 302 — — — — —
1975–76 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 5 1 8 9 32 — — — — —
1976–77 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 18 28 46 274 — — — — —
1977–78 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 16 19 35 254 7 1 0 1 19
1978–79 Detroit Red Wings NHL 62 10 12 22 208 — — — — —
1979–80 Detroit Red Wings NHL 66 2 8 10 127 — — — — —
1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 32 2 2 4 77 — — — — —
1980–81 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 40 16 13 29 99 14 9 5 14 95
1981–82 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 80 30 26 56 202 5 2 2 4 0
1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 11 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
1982–83 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 61 18 22 40 128 6 2 2 4 10
1983–84 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 66 14 26 40 122 — — — — —
1984–85 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 53 18 17 35 133 — — — — —
1985–86 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 78 32 36 68 222 14 8 10 18 36
1986–87 Muskegon Lumberjacks IHL 22 2 9 11 24 — — — — —
NHL totals 390 59 82 141 1242 7 1 0 1 19
AHL totals 360 110 124 234 878 30 13 11 24 135

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McFarlane, Brian (1998). The Red Wings. Toronto: Stoddart. pp. 95–97. ISBN 9780773731165. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Daniels, Calvin (February 18, 2016). "Reflecting on long career in hockey". Yorkton this Week. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. ↑ Weekes, Don (2003). The best & worst of hockey firsts : the unofficial guide. Vancouver, B.C.: Greystone Books. p. 77. ISBN 9781926685427. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Vecsey, George (August 25, 1982). "Sports of the Times; The Price of Hockey Violence". New York Times. p. B9. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ↑ Baley, James A. (1989). Law and liability in athletics, physical education, and recreation. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Publishers. p. 346. ISBN 9780697101471. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Joyce, Randolph (August 30, 1982). "Another black eye for hockey's image". Maclean's. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Terrier History". yorktonterriers.com. Yorkton Terriers. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Campbell, Tim (December 31, 2016). "Kris Draper stirs up Centennial Alumni Game". NHL.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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