I recently had the opportunity to ask prospect Jimmy Bonneau a few questions. With the state of the NHL’s policy on fighting, we take a look at the career in progress of an enforcer in the AHL and get his take on what he thinks is the issue at hand.

Q: You were drafted in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens. Everyone wants to be drafted, but as a Québecois, how important was it for you to be drafted by the Canadiens?

A: I was extremely happy, I wasn’t sure to get drafted and when I heard my name it was one of the best moments of my life. The fact that it was in Montreal was a bonus.

Q: You spent three years in the QMJHL playing for the Montreal/P.E.I. Rocket. The final two years were spent in P.E.I. under the coaching of Alain Vigneault. Tell us what it was like to play under his style of coaching.

A: It was amazing. He had some confidence in me and gave me a lot of opportunities to play and get better. As for his coaching he was excellent, always had a good answer or tip for us.

Q: One of your teammates at the time was Maxim Lapierre. What was it like watching someone who we all know loves to disturb the peace and did you two get along well?

A: He has always been a bit of a pest out there but I don’t think he was doing it as much in juniors. We had a good relationship and I’m happy to see how successful he is now.

Q: After one season with Long Beach in the ECHL, you spent the next two years between Hamilton in the AHL and Cincinnati in the ECHL. Tell us a little about your experience at that point and what it was like to go back and forth from one league to another.

A: I think it was a good thing. We had great teams in Cincinnati and the ECHL was good for my career. The time I spent in Hamilton was a good way to learn about the league and see the difference between the two leagues.

Q: You saw Georges Laraque sign with the Canadiens while you were still with the Habs organization. After learning about that, was it the main reason why you decided to sign with the Portland Pirates?

A: No, I think a change was the best thing for me. The Canadiens didn’t qualify me and I needed a place that was gonna give me the opportunity to prove myself at the AHL level.

Q: In Portland, Mathieu Darche was a teammate of yours. Known in the NHL as a very respectable guy and a hard worker, what was it like with him in the locker room?

A: Great leader. He is a genuine guy who was very respected from his teammates. We were very lucky to have him in Portland.

Q: You went on to play with Rochester the following year. After that, you signed with the Habs organization once again. The signing meant the departure of Eric Nielson. What is your relationship with Nielson, someone you had many encounters with?

A: People might be surprised but Eric and I have a great relationship and I could even consider us friends. We’ve had many fights against each other but they were always fair and I think that shows the respect we have for each other. We have a job to do and we keep it on the ice.

Q: Julien Brisebois, the General Manager of the Bulldogs at the time, called you to offer you the next contract. What expectations did GM Brisebois have for you, and what expectations did you put on yourself?

A: They wanted me to come in, do my job on the ice and be a guy people like and trust off the ice. I wanted to show some improvement in my game and get the respect of my teammates.

Q: Over the years, you have garnered the reputation as one of the best fighters in the AHL. You never hesitate to drop the gloves and answer the bell. What are some of the things that go through in your mind before you clutch your opponent’s jersey?

A: Once its time to fight, I don’t have much going through my mind emotion wise. I think of what to do, when to do it, look at the other guy stance… there is a lot more to fighting in hockey than people may think. Before the game I might be thinking of it but I don’t get too stressed with it. I like to have fun while I get ready for the game and take more of a “if it has to happen it will” kind of approach.

Q: Like a Maxim Lapierre-type player, you like to get verbal sometimes with the opposition. What are some of the things you like to say, to get the opposing players riled up?

A: I don’t talk on the ice as much as people think. It’s just not really something I like to do but if I have to talk I will keep it decent I’m not the kind of guy who will cross the line with a “chirp”.

Q: When was the first time you dropped your gloves in a hockey game and started throwing punches?
A: Training camp with the Rocket. I was big and in good shape and wanted to make the team more than anything. Fighting was a way to help make that happen and things went pretty well for me.

Q: Looking into the NHL, it seems to be a trend lately of tough guys passing away – from Derek Boogaard to Rick Rypien, to recently Wade Belak. We won’t get into what exactly happened but the question comes up, do you think fighting in the NHL and their untimely passing have any link?

A: It’s really hard to see successful guys doing the job I do passing away like this and my thoughts and prayers go to their family and friends. As long as the part of being an enforcer had something to do with it, I don’t think so. I can only speak for myself but I feel really good about what I’m doing. I think the risk of injuries is just as bad for a 1st line player spending 25 minutes on the ice playing against hard-hitting defencemen than an enforcer playing 7 minutes and getting in 20 fights a year.

Q: Georges Laraque has been quoted saying that being a hockey enforcer is “the toughest job in the world.” Do you feel the same way?

A: I think what makes it tough is the fact that tough guys make less money, get less ice time, spend more time doing extra on and off the ice. It is a hard job and you do envy others sometimes but to me the respect I get from my teammates and the fact that I can play the game I love for a living makes it worth every effort and every sacrifice.

Q: The hot topic that seems to be coming up now is: Does fighting have a place in hockey? As a fighter yourself, what effect does this type of question have on you and what is your stance on fighting in hockey?

A: I think it does. It’s been a part of the game forever and I think what’s great about the sport is that everything is involved in it. Skill, speed, toughness and I think that most important thing is for everything to be fair. A good clean hit or a fair fight is and should be part of the game. The players running around and being cheap should be held accountable for their acts off the ice with suspensions and fines but also on the ice because in the end, the cheap shots are by far the most dangerous thing in hockey.

Q: How do you feel about a fight breaking out after a clean hit is made, but on a star player?

A: If it happens to my teammate, I will go after the guy more as a way of intimidating him so next time maybe he eases off on the hit. But I do respect a good clean hit and sometimes maybe just going to the guy and telling him that if he does it again you’re coming for him will be enough. Things happen fast though and sometimes when you see a teammate get crushed it’s a reflex to go in and stick up for him.

Q: Finally, what is your take on the difference between fighting in the spur of the moment and a staged fight? Do you believe that staged fighting makes for an exciting hockey game?

A: There are not many staged fights. You have the fights where a cheap shot happens and guys go fight right away, which everybody seems fine with. The other fights are usually to answer to something that happened the game before and couldn’t be taken care of then, or because of an intense rivalry between 2 teams or again for momentum switch, which are ways for the enforcer to try an chip in for the team in a way that he can. All I can say is that I never fight without a purpose.

This or That?
As seen on the Canadiens website, players are brought in to have some fun with a segment known as This or That.

Call or Text?
Text, but I hate both.

Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook

Indiana Jones or Han Solo?
Indiana Jones

Beastie Boys or Run DMC?
Neither. More of a rock guy.

Mercedes or Audi?
Benz

Blonde or Brunette?
Both

Snow or Rain?
Snow. I’m from Baie-Comeau so I kind of have to.

ESPN or Sports Illustrated?
ESPN

U.S. Customs or Canadian Customs?
Canadian for sure! US borders are the worst.

Celine Dion or Arcade Fire?
Arcade Fire

Nascar or Formula 1?
F1

iPhone or Blackberry?
iPhone

Wile E. Coyote or Roadrunner?
Coyote

Lego or Play-Doh?
Play-doh, but it always used to get hard cause I wouldn’t close the lid right.