'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
The Washington Capitals tried just about everything.
It took just nine seconds into Rene Bourque's first shift Jan. 18 for the Washington Capitals' Matt Hendricks to challenge him to fight. On Jan. 3, then with the Calgary Flames, Bourque put Nicklas Backstrom out of the lineup with a reckless elbow to the head.
Joel Rechlicz is a hockey player right out of the 1970s, fresh with a wooden stick, a grizzled beard and tough-guy mentality. He believes in hitting first, fighting second and asking questions while serving his time in the penalty box.
Joel Rechlicz doesn't need to be told what to do when he gets onto the ice. The nickname "Recker" and his fight card at just about every level of hockey speak for themselves.
Coming out of the NHL All-Star break, the Washington Capitals should be rested and refreshed. All-Star defenseman Dennis Wideman and call-ups Cody Eakin and Joel Rechlicz were the only ones playing over the past several days.
"I heard it was a cheap shot," he said Thursday. "Hopefully I'm in the lineup for that game."
Capitals not forgetting about Rene Bourque, but focus is on the two points →
"It's been good. I've just got to keep working hard," Rechlicz said Friday. "Keep everything simple on the ice and just keep a positive attitude. I'm here to work. Just go down with a positive attitude and hopefully I come right back."
Capitals not forgetting about Rene Bourque, but focus is on the two points →
