While he may not rank among the likes of Shawn Thornton or Adam McQuaid when it comes to fighting, Ference knows how to choose his battles wisely and there’s nothing that stands in his way when someone tests a teammate.
The scrappy defenseman has stepped up on multiple occasions this season, jumping in for a bout whenever someone crosses the line. There has been no better example of this than in the legendary bout with the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec 23. After watching Freddy Meyer complete a high hit on Milan Lucic, Ference immediately dropped the gloves on the Atlanta defenseman, igniting a full line brawl.
In a game like hockey, where teammates mean everything, it’s important to have a guy like Ference on your side. He’s willing to drop anything and everything when a cheap shot is thrown, no matter the size or status of the opposing player.
Let’s also not forget when Ference absolutely pummeled Adam Burish for taking a late slap shot on Tuukka Rask after the whistle on Feb. 3. Burish had to take a trip to the IR after that affair.
It doesn’t hurt that the B’s defenseman also leads the team in plus/minus with a plus-24 rating, ranking third in the NHL in that category.
Needless to say, Ference is definitely a guy you want out on the ice for multiple reasons.
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