Imagine stepping into the batters box to find left-handed pitcher Ken Daneyko staring you down—which almost happened—as baseball meant just as much and maybe more to the inevitably beloved New Jersey Devils defenseman growing up.
Fortunately for major league batters and unfortunately for hockey players on the receiving end of a punishing Daneyko check, "Mr. Devil" chose the ice over the diamond.
"People didn't know anything about it because the joke is we got two months of summer [in Canada]," Daneyko said.
But I played baseball from a younger age than I started hockey, believe it or not. Baseball was my other love. I was a lefty pitcher, they always were in demand of left-handed pitchers, so when I was 14, 15, 16, I had looked for colleges and different things because lefties were in demand. I chose my hockey path because I knew I'd get a better opportunity quicker, or not the opportunity I would know.
Clearly he made the right decision, as Daneyko spent 20 years in the red, white and black from 1983 to 2003.
Now, he doles out his time as opposed to bone-crushing hits.
Sunday, March 24, the g ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Benjamin J. Block
‘Mr. Devil’ Ken Daneyko Headlines a List of Ex-NHL Greats to Help Sandy Victims
March 19th, 2013 by Benjamin J. Block Leave a reply »
Advertisement