Momentum shifts in a hockey game when a player scores a goal, makes a big save or provides a physical check. But another factor can also influence the outcome of a game — toughness and intimidation.

Each night, teams compete in this category through enforcers, players who aren’t afraid to drop the gloves and engage in fist fights to settle a personal rivalry between the sides when the time comes.

For the past three seasons, Jeremy Yablonski has been the tough guy for the Binghamton Senators, exciting fans with bouts against some of the American Hockey League’s toughest heavyweights and amassing nearly 500 penalty minutes in the process.

Earlier this week, I had the chance to sit down with Yablonski for an interview about playing this role in the minor leagues:

Pipe Dream: How did you become interested in hockey as a child?

Jeremy Yablonski: Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. It’s where I grew up — hockey is big there. You’re a kid and you’re skating on the ice before there is any organized hockey. You then get into organized hockey. That’s what we do up there — it’s the pride and joy.

PD: Did you have any childhood influences or idols?

JY: Oh yeah. I always liked the tough guys like Joey Kocur and Kelly Chase — guys back home from Saskatchewan. They’re kind of the big names. I really followed their career a lot and I loved the way they both played. They were tough as nails, those guys. They were good character players and my role models as a hockey player.

PD: At what age did you first start playing hockey?

JY: I got a picture when I was three, I think, when my dad had me out on the pond with my skates. And then it got organized — you’re young, 6 years old playing organized hockey in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

PD: From that time playing when you were younger to today, what would you say your role on the team is?

JY: My main role is toughness and energy and that’s what I bring to the team. I bring leadership and make it easy for the other guys to play the game and I take care of the tough business out there. The enforcer is the fan favorite, and if the [opponents] take liberties on my team then they have to deal with me.

PD: Has your role always been like that? What did you do to get noticed by scouts in the lower-level leagues?

JY: I remember during my first junior camp when I went to the Western Hockey League and played for the Edmonton Ice, I could always skate fast so I was running around and hitting everybody. And then when there were guys that wanted to fight, I always liked to fight since I was a boxer first. So I would just fight and start beating guys up and I fell into that role because there’s a more serious role in junior hockey for that. I loved it, and I love my role and I always have and that’s been my career.

PD: What’s the most difficult part of playing your role?

JY: I think with the hockey season being 80 games for the season, it’s getting yourself mentally prepared every night. You can’t take a night off because there are a lot of tough guys in this league just as there are in the NHL and you’ll get the short end of the stick if you do.

PD: How do you prepare mentally each game for these situations?

JY: You can ask any of the top heavyweights in the American League or the NHL — you’re doing your homework. You’re watching videos, seeing who is on the game before and what kind of style they fight.

PD: How do you feel about the fan support that you get here in Binghamton?

JY: The fans here are amazing. The one thing I like about the fans here is that old-school hockey they love, which is my style of hockey. They really enjoy the toughness and like to see the team in this town really take over the game physically and score big goals. And I like that because we can get the energy going here every night and it feels good to play in front of them.

PD: What has been the greatest moment in your career so far?

JY: Obviously playing in an NHL game with the St. Louis Blues and winning the Calder Cup in Milwaukee one year. I enjoy every day for the most part and coming to the rink, and although we all have our families [at] home, this is like a second family — I just love being around everybody.

On MMA …

Outside of hockey, Yablonski periodically participates in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a full-contact combat sport made famous by organizations such as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where two fighters compete inside an octagon-shaped steel cage.

On May 12, 2007, Yablonski made his MMA debut at Xtreme Fight Series 5 in Boise, Idaho, defeating his opponent Rudy Martin by knockout in 19 seconds.

A month later at XFS 6 in the same location, Yablonski improved to a 2-0 record after he knocked out opponent Justin Peterson in 17 seconds.

Yablonski’s record went to 3-0 and he won a heavyweight championship belt after beating Hawaiian Kololo Kamete at Championship Cage Fighting 6, also held in Boise, Idaho.

This summer, Yablonski plans to step back into the octagon for more competition. His thoughts on being an MMA fighter:

PD: Where did you develop an interest in MMA and land a match in Idaho a couple years ago?

JY: I was always a boxer growing up and I had one of Lennox Lewis’ old trainers before he won gold in the Oympics — Jim “The Rip” Kirby. He helped me with boxing and I trained in the summer because of hockey. Five years ago, I met up with some MMA guys around Idaho and I started training with them and when I was doing all the MMA training, I loved it. I got pretty good and some of the guys were telling me ‘Yabs, you gotta get in the cage and fight, the promoter’s been talking about you and said you gotta get out and do some fights.’ So I was all up for it and the next thing you know, I won two heavyweight belts and I’m going to fight for another one maybe this summer.

PD: Have any hockey skills of yours crossed over into MMA?

JY: Obviously the hockey fighting is different — you’re out on the ice, you have jerseys, but in the end you’re striking, throwing and taking punches. In MMA, it’s a whole different scenario — the ground game, the wrestling, the jujitsu, and you have [to] learn that too because you can be the best striker in the world but some of those guys are going to take you down. So you have to learn how to get out of those takedowns and submissions.

PD: How would you describe your fighting style?

JY: I love the striking — it’s my game. I also love punching and kicking. I’ve become really accustomed to a lot of the wrestling and jujitsu. Just to learn MMA I’ve had to do a lot of it, and I’ve enjoyed it. The throws, the slams — it’s a lot of fun when you can get in the ring and do that.

PD: What’s the adrenaline like when you’re inside the octagon?

JY: It’s a rush. Just like any night in hockey when you go get in a fight you’re going out to war. I get more of a rush after the fight when I know that I’ve won and the guy is knocked out, lying on the canvas. I think the adrenaline hits me more then since I stay calm and collective while fighting.

PD: What do you think it will take for MMA to get sanctioned or legalized in New York?

JY: I know there’s been a lot of talk and when [the state] first looked at the UFC, it was a lot rougher sport. But the UFC has come a long way and they have done a lot of amazing things. The sport is a lot safer than people think now and I think New York is starting to realize that there’s money to be made for the state … along with all the publicity and the business [it would generate]. I think it’s a great thing. I think New York is coming along and I think definitely soon you might start seeing some fights around here.

PD: If there were an MMA event here in Binghamton, what would you say the chances are of getting yourself on the card?

JY: It would depend on hockey contracts. If it was in the summer and I was in between contracts, I could almost guarantee I would love to come here and fight in front of all these people.