VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 15: Tie Domi #28 of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches the action from the bench. … [+]
Tie Domi fought 333 times over his 17-year career in the NHL, the most in league history; a record likely never to be broken, as fighting is virtually extinct in the sport.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Domi in 1988, and he played 1,020 games over his 17-year NHL career. He remains the Toronto Maple Leafs’ all-time leader in penalty minutes, and his penchant for punishment made him one of the most popular players in prime time.
Domi and OVO announced the capsule collection with Roots two nights ago via an Instagram post. It’s scheduled for release online and in-store tomorrow, October 28th–the same number on Domi’s jersey for the Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
On June 28th, 2018, the eve of Drake’s Scorpion album release, he shared a photo of Domi as precursor to his fifth studio project. Coincidence? I think not.
A Tale Of Two Torontos
Drake has a history with hockey, including a brief stint on the ice.
Pictured: Drake in his Weston Red Wings hockey uniform.
When the Toronto native was nine-years-old and enrolled at Weston Memorial Junior Public School, he played right wing for Weston Red Wings. Around the same time, Domi returned to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the New York Rangers.
Drake then made it to Upper Canada College hockey camp–a promising start–but left following a vicious cross-check, according to an ESPN interview by Matthew Glenesk.
Drake co-starred in a satirical commercial that aired during the 1997 NHL Awards, per Phil Witmer for Noisey. Around the same time, Domi set a single-season Leafs’ record with 365 penalty minutes.
Fast forward to August 19th, 2006, and Drake was purportedly paid $100 for his first concert as a supporting act for Ice Cube while, just one month later, on September 19th, 2006, Domi announced his retirement.
Fire, Ice and Heart: A Brief Retrospective
FILE – In this Dec. 2, 1992, file photo, New York Rangers Tie Domi (28) fights with Detroit Red … [+]
Domi’s epic exchange on the ice with Bob Probert at Madison Square Garden on December 2nd, 1992, is arguably the greatest in league history.
To put Domi’s popularity into perspective, take the anomaly, Teemu Selänne. Selänne was Domi’s teammate on the Winnipeg Jets, and to this day, no player has yet to best his rookie record.
During the 1992-93 season, Selänne scored 76 goals and 132 points. But despite Selänne’s extraordinary debut, the fans chose Domi as their favorite player that year–and even put him on their media guide cover.
The two are friends to this day.
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 9: Tie Domi #28 of the New York Rangers is escorted to the penalty box. … [+]
And, speaking of friends, Domi is close with other athletes who came of age in his era, including Mike Tyson, Mark Wahlberg, Tom Brady, David Beckham, and Ric Flair. All of them commented on the collection announcement post to congratulate him.
“He’s probably one of the most popular Leafs to ever play…” Drake said in the announcement clip. “And that’s because of his heart.”
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