Brantt Myhres: Former Sharks Tough Guy
Where is he today?
After the frustrating loss in Calgary, where the Sharks were thrown off of their game due to the "rough stuff", I began to wonder why Team Teal's current pack of tough guys (Shelley, Murray, and Clowe) didn't try to get Sarich to drop the gloves. Granted, it's the playoffs and fighting is usually a rare occurrence, but when your captain gets dropped and receives a bloody nose, I think something has to happen. This lack of response led me to think about former San Jose tough guys who might have done something about the hit. The obvious ones came to mind: McSorley, Gaetz, Odgers, Nazarov, Marchment, and Parker. However, one player in particular stood out in my head and had me wondering "what ever happened to him?".
The player that I was thinking about is Brantt Myhres...the tough guy from Edmonton only played 43 games with the Sharks. Though he was only around long enough to have a cup of coffee, he still stood out in my mind. Why? Well, for those of you Sharks fans that remember, after every fight, Myhres would howl into the air in excitement while on his way to the penalty box. I don't believe he was showing off; rather, I think it was just his way of spontaneously releasing the rush he received from fighting. The howl obviously riled the crowd up and it became his trademark if only for a short time.
After his short stay in San Jose, Brantt went on to play a handful of games for the Preds, Caps, and Bruins. Though being only 28 or 29 at the time, Myhres played his last regular season NHL game during the 2002-2003 season for Boston. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I assume there simply wasn't a place on any NHL roster for him.
In 2005, Brantt tried to make a comeback and actually reached NHL ice once again in the pre-season for guess who...the Calgary Flames. Unfortunately, during one of those pre-season games against the Oilers, Myhres comeback was cut short when he fought Georges Laraque. During the scrap, Laraque delivered a devastating shot to Brantt's eye which sent him to the hospital. The injury was more serious than many thought; in fact, it required major reconstructive surgery. Ever since, Brantt hasn't been the same when out on the ice.
He eventually played hockey again (AHL and Europe), but Myhres never wanted to drop the gloves. In an article found on Canada.com, he was quoted as to saying: "Part of me still likes to watch a good hockey fight, but part of me hates it."
Nowadays, Myhres is trying to use his NHL ties to become an agent. In fact, he joked, "Seventeen teams. I know a lot of guys."
I don't often think about it, but the life of an NHL enforcer is a tough one. Day in and day out, you have to be ready to fight...regardless of how you're feeling that day. Granted, Brantt may have never reached the NHL if it weren't for his fighting ability, but still...it's got to be rough.
Source: "Wasted days, wasted fights" by Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal
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