The endangered species

It has long been considered the toughest job in hockey.

And now the role of the enforcer in the NHL is under the spotlight like never before.

With the deaths of three young men, all of whom were NHL fighters this past summer, many are wondering if it still has a place in the game? Certainly the role of the designated fighter – those guys who rarely play and take part in staged fights to justify their existence – is under the gun.

They have become an endangered species.

For Colton Orr of the Toronto Maple Leafs, however, fighting on the ice is a way of life – his way of life – and he doesn’t see that changing in the near future.

"It’s a tough job, but it’s been a part of hockey for a long time," Orr said. "I enjoy going out there and making sure my team feels comfortable to play. It’s out of our (fighters) control what happens in the future. The way things stand now, there’s fighting in hockey, so you have to be ready."

Part of being ready when you are a fighter at the big-league level is knowing the next punch you take to the head could be the last.

It is a risky way to make a living, to be sure, and Orr knows that better than most.

Last season, on Jan. 20, Orr lost a fight to Anaheim enforcer George Perros.

He lost it badly.

Orr suffered a concussion in the battle and didn’t play again.

He wasn’t alone.

Raitis Ivanans of the Calgary Flames was beaten up by Edmonton’s Steve McIntyre on the opening night of the 2010-11 season and didn’t play another game. The late Derek Boogaard of the New York Rangers lost a big-time bout to Matt Carkner of the Ottawa Senators Dec. 9 and was lost for the season.

The 6-foot-3, 222-pound Orr, who has fought 99 times in the regular season during his six-year, NHL career with the Boston Bruins, Rangers and Maple Leafs, understands fighting is what he must do to stay in the NHL.

He has 10 goals and 19 points in 373 games to go with 916 penalty minutes, but offence is certainly an afterthought. He’s in the NHL because he fights. For what it is worth, it is a lucrative occupation. The 29-year-old Winnipeg, Man., native has two years remaining on his contract at $1 million per season.

Thus far though the exhibition season Orr has skated in two games picking up one minor penalty. He has yet to fight since that fateful day against Perros. How he’ll fare when the gloves next come off remains to be seen.

Fighting, for the most part, is not something you can actually practice. Not real fighting. Sure, Orr and fellow tough guy Jay Rosehill, along with Mike Brown, dropped the mitts and tussled a little (in fun) at Thursday’s practice, but for the most part, fighters can only work on their skills in games.

Scorers practice their shots; goalies practice making saves and fighters, well, they work on their skills, but not the skills that keep them employed.

Orr accepts what he must do to stay in the lineup. Like most fighters, however, he wishes for the day to come when he’s put in the lineup for more than his ability to intimidate.

"When I’m on the bench I’m more thinking about playing and not just fighting," Orr said. "I want my fighting to be more spur of the moment rather than be sitting there thinking about it. I’m just going to go out and play hard and when it comes, it comes."

Orr looks menacing like a fighter should. With slicked back long hair that will soon give Troy Polamalu a run for the money, and covered in tattoos, he doesn’t look like the kind of dude you’d like to bump into in a dark alley at closing time.

However, typical of many of those that make their living with their fists, Orr is soft-spoken and polite.

When asked if he fears being tagged with the next big punch, one that could lead to another concussion, Orr simply shrugs his shoulders.

"Hey, it happens," he said. "It’s a tough role to play. You just go out there and get back at it. It’s part of the risk, but it was a risk before I had the concussion.

"It just comes with the job. I’ll try to protect myself, but if you play this role in the NHL, you accept that."

Veteran hockey columnist Mike Brophy will cover the Toronto Maple Leafs for sportsnet.ca for the 2011/12 season.