Joey Kocur Very Nearly Had To Have His Right Arm Amputated After Fight

Published on September 26th, 2024 7:46 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Joey Kocur had a long and successful NHL career that saw him play for three different teams and win three Stanley Cups.

Kocur's professional career very nearly didn't happen, however, as a minor league fight in 1985 nearly resulted in the amputation of his right arm.

It was 1985 and Joey Kocur received some life-changing news - he was being called up to the Detroit Red Wings.

Kocur's team, the Adirondack Red Wings, was playing against the Nova Scotia Oilers.

During the game, Kocur got into a fight with Larry Playfair. Kocur received a massive cut on his right hand after punching Playfair in the teeth.

After the game concluded, Kocur's hand received 40 stitches, but it looked like he was going to make a quick recovery.

The pain in his hand lessened when Kocur heard that he had been called up to the Detroit Red Wings. Kocur was told to head to Detroit to join the team.

Kocur flew to Detroit the next morning and checked himself into a hotel.

That evening, Kocur's arm exploded in size due to intense swelling. Kocur was in agony and was unable to sleep.

Kocur's arm was so big at his first morning skate that he was unable to fit into his glove. Trainers, doctors and eventually surgeons were summoned, and the decision was made to rush Kocur into surgery.

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The cut on Kocur's hand had quickly led to an infection, as the doctors in Halifax hadn't thought that Kocur's cut might be at risk for infection.

The infection was spreading fast in Kocur's right arm, and his tendons were starting to rot.

Kocur was immediately put on antibiotics and his arm was operated on.

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Doctors had some scary revelations for the young hockey player when he came out of surgery - he had nearly lost his arm due to the infection.

Another day, the doctors told him, and your arm might have been lost.

Kocur ended up making a full recovery, and his right hand was used many times over the course of his career to batter his competition, as Kocur was one of the toughest players in NHL history.