When former Coyotes star Jeremy Roenick used to tuck himself in his teammates' lockers and jump out when they opened them, players either screamed or slammed the door and took off.
Except for Rick Tocchet.
“He slugged me right in the head,” Roenick said.
Roenick never attempted the ruse on Tocchet again.
“He’s not afraid of anything, and he’s going to fight back no matter what,” Roenick said. “I made the wrong decision at the wrong time, but it was the funniest thing ever because that’s Toch to a T.”
Tocchet’s full-bore personality was first introduced to the Coyotes as a player in the late '90s when he skated as a skilled yet rugged scorer.