Jon Mirasty, long one of Quebec’s favorites in the North American Hockey League, admitted that in the years 2000 to 2010 it was sometimes madness to give up in this league.
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“It was really special. “I loved fighting, you know,” Mirasty told the boys on the popular podcast “Spittin’ Chiclets” during this season’s premiere on Wednesday. But sometimes it was too much for me. Often it was one fight after another. There were so many fighters. The quantity was there, but perhaps the quality was a little lower.”
The 41-year-old Saskatchewan native, who according to the website Hockeyfights.com has about 260 duels under his belt, including two in preseason games in the National League, had his “most productive” season in 2006-2007, in which he took off the gloves 39 times. with the Sorel-Tracy mission.
Designed by Sorel Tracy
If Mirasty found himself with Sorel-Tracy in 2004-2005, it was because he was unable to attend Chicago Blackhawks camp due to the NHL lockout. So he ended up in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) in Greenville.
“I hated it. “I played in Bakersfield in a beautiful arena, full of fans who loved me,” said the colorful character with the Mohawk. And then this team from Quebec calls me to tell me I’ve been drafted .I was wondering who might want to pick me!”
“I was told I would get $2,000 a week and that I wouldn’t have to pay anything,” he continued. I could have made more money in Greenville, but I decided to go to Quebec to have fun.”
A talented race track
Mirasty reminded the hosts, former players Paul Bissonnette – whom he once fought in the American League (AHL) – and Ryan Whitney, as well as blogger Brian McGonagle, that the LNAH is not just a league of pugilists, and that is even less true case today.
“My first season there, every team had guys in the top six who had played in the NHL and AHL. The third unit featured AHL veterans who could score and mix, while the defense featured 6- and 7-inch, 280-pound men. Back then, the LNAH teams would have destroyed the ECHL teams,” said the 5-foot-7 idiot.
Myrasty fought memorable bouts against Joël Thériault and Steve Bossé, particularly during his three stints in Quebec, the last of which dates back to 2017-2018 with the Draveurs de Trois-Rivières.
Bonuses
“Nasty” also mentioned anecdotes from Russia, but his time in La Belle Province was not ignored either.
“At one point I got a bonus of $3,000 a week. The man who came to bring me the envelope asked me to count and sign a paper in front of him because he didn’t want to get in trouble if I said I hadn’t received the money,” the man said, who traveled by plane almost every week between Saskatchewan and Quebec to play two games with Sorel-Tracy.
Now he plays for fun at home with his 20-year-old son Triston. He is active in his Cree community and began an acting career on the series Shoresy, the Hockey Bastard.