Roger Wood: Destroying Hockey Fight Songs Since 1997

During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it's not uncommon to hear local radio stations blasting corny "fight songs" over the airwaves in an effort to build excitement and support for the home town team. At least, I think that's why they do it. The problem is, many of the songs are awful, and so bad that they make your brain bleed out of your ears. But what happens when they're not only somewhat catchy, but when they're recycled from one city to another by simply replacing team and player names?

Let's ask the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes.

Exhibit A: Let's Go Pens



Exhibit B: Let's Go Canes



Notice anything similar? I mean, aside from the fact the two videos are filled with hilarious awkward dancing? How about the fact it's the same song! It's worth pointing out that neither of these songs are from this season (the mention of Marian Hossa in the Penguins' song should have been a pretty strong giveaway). In the late 1990's, the Penguins had a different version of their song with timely lyrics to reflect the play of Mario Lemieux, Sergei Zubov, and Petr Nedved, and it was written by singer/song-writter Roger Wood. The Hurricanes song is new to my ear drums, but the voice sounded exactly the same, so I contacted Pete Soto, Carolina Hurricanes director of advertising production and in-game marketing, looking for some answers.

Soto confirmed that the songs were both written by Wood, while also adding, "the song was already in use when I arrived in 1999. I was given the task of re-writing the lyrics after named players left."

He was not sure of which song came first, but confirmed that the Hurricanes have been using their version since the team arrived from Hartford (long live Brass Bonanza!) in 1997.

So there you have it. Roger Wood is responsible for recycling fight songs around the NHL. Don't we deserve better? Don't we deserve more snappy tunes like Brass Bonanza? Or, at the very least, more variations on Wang Chung songs like this gem from the Winnipeg Jets in the early 1990's?



Of course we do. Some other unofficial fight songs for your listening enjoyment/torture:

Ya Flyer Scum (Penguins)

The Broad Street Bullies Playoff Song (Flyers).

It's Gonna Rain Flames (Flames)