Nick Tarnasky of the Anaheim Ducks poses for his official headshot (Credit: Getty Images) Former NHL player Nick Tarnasky is trending across social media platforms following a physical altercation on a Canadian golf course. Known for his tough presence during his NHL career, Tarnasky was filmed engaging with a visibly drunk man who appeared to provoke the former enforcer. The viral clip shows Tarnasky warning the man multiple times to walk away before things turn violent.The footage captures Tarnasky picking the man up and throwing him into a nearby lake. Rather than backing off, the man reemerges from the water and attempts to continue the confrontation. Tarnasky responds by landing a flurry of punches that sends the individual crawling away on all fours. The sequence of events has since gone viral, with many pointing to Tarnasky’s history as an NHL enforcer to explain the swift takedown.
Former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky destroys drunk man in wild viral golf course brawl (Credit: Reddit/@r/hockey)
Viral golf course fight shows Nick Tarnasky’s old NHL instincts
Nick Tarnasky played 245 games in the NHL between 2005 and 2010, representing teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers. A 6’2″, 230-pound forward, he racked up 297 penalty minutes during his professional career. Tarnasky was never shy about dropping the gloves and went head-to-head with some of the league’s toughest names, including Milan Lucic and Chris McGrattan.
Former NHL enforcer Nick Tarnasky destroys drunk man in wild viral golf course brawl (Credit: Reddit/@r/hockey)
Social media erupts after Nick Tarnasky video surfaces
The video, initially circulated through X and Instagram, has gained hundreds of thousands of views in just a few days. Most users seem to support Tarnasky’s response, noting that he attempted to deescalate the situation before defending himself. The absurdity of the drunk man crawling out of the lake only to get punched again has become the subject of memes and reactions across platforms.What started as a pace-of-play dispute has become one of the most widely shared golf course altercations in recent memory. For Nick Tarnasky, it’s an unexpected return to the spotlight, but one that shows he’s still not the guy to pick a fight with.Also Read: NHL trade rumor: Maple Leafs consider trading David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, and one defenseman amid offseason reshuffle