1999 - 2000 FIGHTCARD

Training camp scrap Jason Simon (UR)
Jason Simon was trying out for the Edmonton Oilers and I luckily attended the training camp the day he and Georges' teams scrimmaged.  Simon, trying to make a name for himself, asked Georges to fight in the windsprints prior to the scrimmage.  Georges told him to wait till the game.  When game time came around they were lined up at the faceoff and before the puck was even dropped they went at it and Georges gave him the business.  He landed countless lefts, opening up a cut somewhere on his head.  Even though Simon was left bloody and beaten, he was the only person who was gutsy enough to take on Georges.  The next day in the paper Georges talked really highly about Simon, possibly to promote him getting "the job" on the farm team or on another team.
Sept 17, 99 vs MON Dave Morissette (UR)
Another case of a toughguy trying to make an NHL team.  I saw this fight live.  Morissette asked Georges if he was willing to fight during the pre-game skate.  Georges said yes and halfway through the first period they went at it.  Georges beat the ugly off Morissette's face. As a pool of blood followed the two combatants, Georges landed left after left until the referees broke them up.  Instead of going to the penalty boxes Morissette went to the dressing room to get his face put back together and Georges went to the dressing room to get Morissette's blood washed out of his Jersey.  At least Morissette took it like a man.  He was quoted saying "I think I hurt his hand".
Photo	Oct 01, 99 vs NYR Darren Langdon (12)
This had the makings of a good tilt but it did not materialize to be one. Langdon held on for most of the fight and landed a couple little punches. Georges tried his best to get it going but only landed a couple of punches. Langdon was content just holding on. I think that Langdon knew he was overmatched but I do give him credit for fighting Georges. He is one of very few guys that will.
Photos	Nov 07, 99 vs ANA Stu Grimson (3), Round III
This was the third fight between these two super Heavywieghts.  Last year Laraque beat Grimson up both times they fought, so in this fight the "Reaper" played it safe and held on. The two squared off but it was more or less a wrestling match.   Georges did, however, demonstrate his superior strength.  If he could have gotten loose he would have won this fight easily. The fight ended with Grimson being thrown to the ice.  Georges, being a true heavywieght, backed off when he could have done some serious damage.
	Nov 14, 99 vs Chicago Mark Janssens (26)
I give Mark Janssens a lot of credit for fighting big Georges. Laraque had this bout won from the beginning, landing some solid punches. Janssens was trying to fight a more defensive fight but Georges had no problem landing punches. The fight ended with Janssens falling to the ice after three huge, and I mean HUGE, lefts. Janssens was cut.
	Nov 14, 99 vs Chicago Bob Probert (5)
Just one period after Georges beat on Mark Janssens he fought Probert. Probert threw a lot but landed very few. Georges landed some good shots. Probert's jersey came off and I'm sure it was no accident. I know Probert is one of the greats of all time but not tying down is very cheap. I hope Georges goes at him again when Chicago comes to town.
Photos	Dec 01, 99 vs COL Chris Dingman (UR), Round II
This one was right off the face off.  Digman threw a right that Laraque blocked.  Georges threw a couple and got Dingmans helmet off.  Dingman goes down and gets back up.  Laraque unleashes the left and knocks Dingman down again.  This time when Dingman tries to get up Laraque lands a massive left, blood splatted on the ice and then Dingman tied up Georges.  I didn't see where the blood was from but I think it was his nose.  Easy win for Laraque.
	Dec 14, 99 vs NYI Eric Cairns (UR)
Laraque tagged Cairns with an early left that just about sent Cairns down. That was pretty much the only landed punch between the two. For some reason the linesman came in and broke it up before they were finished. The replay of the fight clearly shows the punch by Georges. It's too bad that the linesman had to break it up so early. Win for Georges.
	Dec 27, 99 vs ANA Stu Grimson (1), Round IV
It has become a given that these two guys will dance when the Oilers play the Ducks. After a lengthy square off (you gotta love the square off) the two combatants grabbed each other and exhanged blows. Grimson missed with a right and Georges unloaded a massive left. It is tough to tell if Laraque's punch landed square, but Grimson went down. Decision goes to Laraque, even if the punch didn't land square. Grimson looked bad falling down. Georges is now 3-0-1 against the "Reaper" dating back to last season. I love Grimson's willingness. There aren't a lot of guys that will go with big Georges every time they play.
Photo	Dec 30, 99 vs LA Steve McKenna (UR), Round I
Round I:  By the time the camera gets over to the fight, Laraque is throwing punches and McKenna is just trying to keep his balance. Before Laraque could do any serious damage, McKenna literally hugs him and pulls him to the ice. This was an easy win for Laraque.
	Jan 07, 00 vs TB Kyle Freadrich (UR)
Kyle Freadrich is a young fighter for the Lightning. Standing 6'6 & 260 lbs, he is probably the first guy who has had comparable strength to Georges. It was Freadrich's first fight of the year and he was trying to make a name for himself against one of the best. He didn't go toe to toe, but he didn't hold on as much as most guys do against Georges. Laraque landed 1 good shot and Freadrich landed a couple of harmless shots to the back of Georges helmet. Freadrich's lip was a little bit bloody.  In my opinion, a slight decision for Georges in what may have been a preview of many great battles in the years to come.
	Jan 25, 00 vs VAN Donald Brashear (7)
On the opening face off Georges lined up on his off wing to get a piece of Brashear.  It took only 3 seconds for the gloves to be shed, but unfortunately things went down hill from there. A fight fan's dream fight turned out to be nothing more than an uneventful wrestling match. They had a lengthy square off.  Usually I love a good square off, but Brashear has such a dumb looking stance that it wasn't even good.  They came together and spun around and Brashear fell down.  They came together again and Brashear locks on like a vice grip. Brashear throws three non-damaging punches to Laraque's helmet and Georges comes back with a left to the side of Brashear's head.  They then hit the ice together.  The entire fight Georges was trying to push Brashear back, but Donald was content just giving him a big hug. Brashear did his little hand dusting gesture, for what reason nobody knows.  That would be like a team celebrating after a scoreless draw.  Georges countered with a hugging motion that was kind of funny.  This was basically a no contest and there was no rematch because Brashear honestly thinks he is too valuable on the ice.
Photos	Feb 11, 00 vs PITT Dennis Bonvie (UR)
You had to know that these two former Hamilton teammates were going to go at it. Especially after the Oilers went down 2-0 early. They started off by trading a couple of punches before Georges got his left free and once that left gets free you're in trouble.   Georges nailed Bonvie with four hard lefts to the side and back of his helmetless head. When Bonvie got up he was covered in his own blood.  There was some confusion of how the cut was opened but after watching the replay you can see it coming from the same place that Georges hammered on. Georges really showed why he won the job with the Oilers.
Photo	Feb 21, 99 vs LA Steve McKenna (UR), Round II
Round II:  Georges absolutely hammers Berg so McKenna has to come fight him.  As always Georges is game but it didn't turn out to be a great scrap. McKenna just held on like always.  There were no punches really.  McKenna knows Georges is much stronger than him so he just holds him.  He is very lucky that Laraque is a fair fighter because Georges could have hammered him when he fell down.  McKenna got the extra 2 minutes for instigating but it's not like you ever have to put a gun to Georges head to get him to drop the gloves.  Oilers scored on the ensuing powerplay.
Photo	Feb 25, 00 vs ATL Matt Johnson (9), Round III
Well, it doesn't take much to make these two monsters drop the gloves.  They went right off a faceoff.  Good sqaure off, but a pretty short fight. They both threw a couple with most of the punches missing. It looked like Laraque may have got a shot in before Johnson tied him up. Laraque wasn't going to just dance around so he took Johnson down very hard. This one was more or less a draw. Johnson hasn't had any success against Georges in the past so he wasn't going to go toe to toe with him.
Photo	Mar 13, 00 vs ATL Matt Johnson (9), Roughing
This one wasn't really a "fight", rather a jerzy pulling contest.  These two, like in the last fight, can't seem to really get it going.  I think Johnson likes to dance more than fight.  It was so uneventful the ref only gave them each 2 minutes for roughing.  There's always next time.
	Mar 15, 00 vs CAR Sandy McCarthy (T2)
Georges has wanted a piece of the "Sandman" all year but after they didn't fight when Edmonton played Philly it looked like we'd have to wait until next year for this super heavywieght match up.   Luckily McCarthy was traded to Carolina at the deadline and his first game was against the Oilers.  It seemed from the first time they were out against each other that they were going to go, and early in the 2nd period they did.  It started with a very good square off.  Both guys staring each other in the eyes.  Georges made the first move.  He was able to get McCarthy's head down and gets the helmet off as usual.  Georges threw several punches to the back of McCarthy's ducked head.  This fight was all Laraque.  McCarthy didn't land a single punch until the linesman intervened and he threw a cheap punch that landed.  This little cheapshot made no difference.  Georges handled McCarthy like he has probably never been handled before.  By far Georges' biggest win of the year.
	Apr 05, 00 vs COL Chris Dingman (UR) Round III
Laraque checked Dingman and it started up.  Dingman got in tight, Laraque was able to get his helmet off and land a few quick shots to the side of Dingman's head.  Georges lost his balance but Dingman wasn't able to capitalize.  Laraque regained his balance and together they went down.  Georges landed a nice shot to Dingman's jaw on the way down.  The fight wasn't very long and by no means was dominated by Georges but you have to give the edge to Georges because he was the only one to land a punch. Dingman is as game as any fighter and has proved that by fighting Big Georges twice this season.

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