Mastodon
@Boston Bruins

#17 Stan Jonathan Boston Bruins: Hell’s Bells



5′ 8″ and 175 pounds is typically a hindrance for a man in a rough sport like hockey — but not for Stan “Bulldog” Jonathan who defined incredible strength; tenacity; very little bark and a whole lot of bite.

Stan never let his size get in the way of his game; however he thought nothing of throwing himself in the path of opponents that towered over and outweighed him. Capable of taking down bigger opponents as easily as the wind blowing over a house of cards; sometimes he bloodied them in the process for added measure — teaching those wise enough to learn, a lesson about who not to screw with.

Pound for pound, Stan was irrefutably one of the toughest and most ferocious fighters across the NHL during his era {excepting Boston Bruins; where he was 2nd toughest to teammate Terry O’Reilly}. Those who foolishly presumed they had the advantage of height and weight, and could easily remove Stan as an obstacle — they quickly learned that he wouldn’t be pushed around simply because he was smaller in stature. Answering the call to fight Stan undoubtedly rang like Hell’s Bells in opponents’ heads for days afterward.

44 Comments

  1. I grew up watching him…Man he was a Pitbull!!! What he did to Bouchard was laughable!!!

  2. The original "little ball of hate"!
    Just so strong and could throw with power in each hand with great balance.

  3. Stand grandson tanner is my best friend I call him tan bean. Stan is a beauty tho real nice guy seems to be living the dream nowadays anyways sick vid.

  4. I remember another left winger, pound for pound fighter too.
    Also #17.
    Happened to play for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

  5. Still don't understand to this day how or why Bouchard got it so bad from Jonathan. Pierre Bouchard was 6'2" 205 lbs and a bit of a scrapper…

  6. Guy,s a legend , could put the puck in the net as well……closest I’ve ever seen to him is Jon Mirasty

  7. i wish there was more fight vids of him! so tough! loved him in Boston! Bouchard never played again I believe.

  8. I remember Stan in Jr alot of good scrapes with bigger guys he could play too good in the corners. Glad Bruins got him some good scrapes in Philly and Montreal over the years. Probably toughest guy in his prime.

  9. Good luck finding anyone else in NHL history who was 5'8, 175 pounds who was even remotely as tough as Stan Jonathan. Fun fact… Don Cherry watched him in a game when he played in the OHL for the Peterborough Petes and talked Harry Sinden into drafting him; no one else even had any interest in him. Cherry would later state that Stan Jonathan was his most proud acquisition.

  10. I was too young for stan Jonathan. But what I've heard from my older cousin is he played how my culture h
    Has had to act the last 50 years . Fight for anything that you weren't given

  11. Bouchard went looking for Stan, from Boston saw his whole career, bad move by Bouchard,Johnathan hit him with so many lefts Bouchard was begging for a right, put a hole in his head, Johnathan was a beast.

  12. I remember the Bouchard fight well. Went to one of there practices once and Stan came over to say hi. He looked like a cinder block just solid. He was awesome with the people who came to see them also. Got his autograph in the 79' yearbook along With Terry O'Reilly, Wayne Cashmen most of the guys on that team and a first year guy who was new to the team Ray bourque. Ya gotta love the Big Bad Bruins.

Write A Comment