Rick Jodzio
Encyclopedia
Richard Joseph Jodzio is a former professional ice hockey
left winger
. He played in the National Hockey League
with the Colorado Rockies
and the Cleveland Barons
; additionally, he played in the World Hockey Association
with the Vancouver Blazers
and the Calgary Cowboys
.
In his NHL career, Jodzio appeared in 70 games. He scored 2 goals and added 8 assists. He also collected 71 minutes in penalties. He played in 137 WHA games, scoring 15 goals and adding 16 assists. He also had 357 minutes in penalties.
In on of the most infamous moments of organized hockey, on 11 April 1976 Jodzio, while playing for the Calgary Cowboys of the WHA, attacked Quebec Nordiques star Marc Tardif
with a vicious high-stick during a hockey game in Quebec City
. Jodzio's hit caused Tardif permanent brain damage. According to several witnesses, Jodzio hit Tardif repeatedly as Tardif lay helplessly on the ice.1
It is disputed still exactly how the fight occurred, video of the aftermath of the event is available on youtube.com. Jodzio was also a trained boxer. Since then Jodzio and Tardif have met for press interviews.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
and the Cleveland Barons
Cleveland Barons (NHL)
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
; additionally, he played in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
with the Vancouver Blazers
Vancouver Blazers
The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973-75. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Blazers were owned by...
and the Calgary Cowboys
Calgary Cowboys
The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, though it never played a game in Miami...
.
In his NHL career, Jodzio appeared in 70 games. He scored 2 goals and added 8 assists. He also collected 71 minutes in penalties. He played in 137 WHA games, scoring 15 goals and adding 16 assists. He also had 357 minutes in penalties.
In on of the most infamous moments of organized hockey, on 11 April 1976 Jodzio, while playing for the Calgary Cowboys of the WHA, attacked Quebec Nordiques star Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association, principally for the Quebec Nordiques.-Playing career:...
with a vicious high-stick during a hockey game in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. Jodzio's hit caused Tardif permanent brain damage. According to several witnesses, Jodzio hit Tardif repeatedly as Tardif lay helplessly on the ice.1
It is disputed still exactly how the fight occurred, video of the aftermath of the event is available on youtube.com. Jodzio was also a trained boxer. Since then Jodzio and Tardif have met for press interviews.