The man who broke the record for most penalty minutes

History · Published 14 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Dave Schultz was the ultimate enforcer of the Philadelphia Flyers' "Broad Street Bullies." Known as "the Hammer," he became a household name for his aggressive style, eventually setting a league record that defined an era of hockey history and sparked a major rule change.

Born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, in 1949, Dave Schultz was originally a point producer in junior hockey. However, his professional trajectory shifted dramatically upon joining the Richmond Robins of the AHL. In his first year of pro hockey, he transitioned into the role of an enforcer, a move that would lead him to the Philadelphia Flyers and legendary status as one of the sport's most notable heavyweights.

Schultz became a cornerstone of the Flyers' physical identity during their championship runs in the mid-1970s. He won two Stanley Cups with the team (1973–74 and 1974–75) and was capable of more than just fighting; he scored 20 goals for Philadelphia in the 1973–74 season and netted the series-winning overtime goal in the first round of the 1974 playoffs against the Atlanta Flames. Despite his reputation, he later expressed regret over the prominence of fighting in the game.

His impact on the sport's mechanics was literal. After injuring his wrist in a fight, Schultz began wearing boxing wraps for protection. This sparked a trend where enforcers in both the NHL and WHA began using wraps to prevent injury during fights. This led the leagues to pass the "Schultz Rule," which banned the use of boxing wraps in professional hockey. He remains the only player to record multiple seasons of over 400 penalty minutes, peaking with a record 472 minutes in the 1974–75 season.

Following his playing career, Schultz remained a fixture in hockey circles, serving as a coach for various minor league teams and as the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League during the 1982–83 season. He eventually transitioned into media and literature, co-authoring the book "The Hammer" and releasing his memoirs, "Hammered: The Fight of My Life," in 2025.

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