Last Tuesday night, I got the opportunity to meet and interview a legend.  Not the type of legend they’d recognize in North Dakota or Idaho or even in New York City, but a true Rochester legend.  I was privileged to hang out with former Rochester Amerk Scott Metcalfe.

If you remember Metcalfe, you remember his brain-bashing fights and true grit.  Scott represents a small group of hockey players defined as enforcers.  The enforcer, as Scott defines is, is the player who makes sure nobody gets anywhere near the goal scorers.  He’s the guy whose face looks like a hammock from the scars of blocked shots and punches.  And he, the enforcer, has more pride in his game than any other athlete in all of sports.

Metcalfe, a proud enforcer, is also a bright guy.  His Canadian-hockey dialect, at first, might make you think he’s a thug.  But, the more you talk to Scott, the more you realize that it takes as much intelligence as it does toughness to be an enforcer.

No, it doesn’t take smarts to get whacked in the face with a stick.  You don’t have to be articulate to get your brains smashed against a Plexiglas wall.  To understand the importance of playing the game with grit, to analyze the game critically and to be able to explain and pass on that knowledge, well, that’s something else.  That’s what Metcalfe does best. 

He says he wants to be a professional coach (though the way he talks about his 11-year old son’s team, you’d think it was the pros), after meeting him, I think he should be a broadcaster.

We asked Scott about the Amerks and Sabres.  He offered well thought out takes and, while we were on-stage interviewing him, gave clear and entertaining answers.   That’s more than you can say for many color guys in any sport.

We asked Scott about the Sabres toughness.  He had this comment about forward Patrick Kaleta, the Sabres big hitter, and his visor:  “Visors for soft guys are OK…but, what are you going to do when you have to fight?  Roll down the window…now we can fight.”

The public may miss out on these gems because Metcalfe wants stay a coach.  He wants to teach young players grit.  He doesn’t realize that he’s a legend for a reason, because grit is something that comes from the individual.  That’s what the Buffalo Sabres lack.  Many are calling for a goal scorer, but I agree with Scott, they need a fighter.

Remember when Rob Ray could change the entire complexion of a game?   Remember when Ray could ignite a crowd of near 20,000?  Remember when Rob Ray could deck any guy who came near his goaltender?  Who’s there to protect Ryan Miller or Thomas Vanek?  Not Kaleta and his face window.