One lump or two?

Is Brandon Sugden worth the price of admission or what? He was in mid-season form tonight early on. After getting cross-checked hard in front of the Hamilton net in the opening period, Sugar tried to entice a few Bulldogs to dance by throwing three gloved rights at two different players before Ajay Baines finally agreed to be the sacrificial lamb. Baines got off easy as both players fell in the corner and Sugden ended up with 21 minutes of penalty time.

He spent the entire second period in the box (when asked by one reporter how he does that without getting bored he replied "I am used to it by now"), but that didn't stop him from incititng his opponent. When Hamilton tough guy Zack Stortini got into it with Jeff Szwez in front of the penalty box at the close of the second, Sugar berated Stortini for covering up and protecting himself with both arms (along with calling him a few choice names mainly used to describe a certain part of the female anatomy).

The two chatted often throughout the game with Stortini blowing kisses at Sugden. Late in the third Sugar tried one last time to get to Stortini when the Bulldog center gave Joe Motzko a cheap shot in front of the Crunch bench. Sugden climbed half-way over the boards and pleaded with Motzko to change so he could get a piece of Stortini, but before he could Andrew Murray jumped him. The look of disappointment on Sugden's face was priceless.

What makes Sugden so special is the attitude. Some tough guys have it, some don't. They all like to think they do, but that is not the case. The attitude was on display in the locker room after the game. When one reporter asked Sugden about Stortini, Sugden pursed his lips and gave a wave of his hands as if to say he was as troubling as a gnat buzzing around his head.

Now don't get me wrong, Sugden respects tough guys. Especially guys who deserve it and the ones that follow the code, but that's where it ends, with respect. He still believes no matter who is around that he is the toughest guy in the room. That is all part of the attitude.