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Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

Video: Flyers brawler Riley Cote tattoos his fans

By Greg Wyshynski

Love him or hate him, there's no disputing that Riley Cote(notes) of the Philadelphia Flyers is an interesting dude.

He's a hockey brawler who trains in MMA during the offseason. He has his own personal Web site at RileyCote.com and is, perhaps, one of the few NHL goons on Twitter. Now, Cote's engaging in quite a fascinating hobby: Tattoo artistry.

The Philadelphia Daily News brought Cote's inking to the masses today, after blogs like The 700 Level reported on it last month.

His favorite tattoo artist, Jeff Gemma of Secret Society Tattooing in Worcester, Mass., requested that Cote give him a Flyers logo on his ankle after Riley helped turn him from a lapsed Boston Bruins fan into a Philly fanatic.

They filmed the ordeal and put it on YouTube last month. Cote's effort is ... well, it resembles a Flyers logo. As he rationalized: "It's game-worn." Behold, the mark of the Cote!

After that, Cote's basically become the Flyers' answer to Kat Von D: Tattooing a second fan and promising more ink -- this time for charity.

Here's Cote on The Preston and Steve Show on 93.3 WMMR in Philly, getting some professional coaching and putting his mark on a local lady's foot. "I was nervous. But it looks like a Flyers' logo, and that's all that counts," he said.

Not sure what was more painful: The tattooing or the tattoo?

That radio stunt has led Cote's inking hobby in an interesting direction, according to the Daily News:

Since that segment on WMMR, the requests and fan mail begging for tattoos has tripled. While he can't do them all, Cote will do at least one more to raise money for charity.

His favorite cause is the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. He presented the MSAA with a check for $27,000 on Oct. 1 in honor of his sister, Jamie, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2000.

"I'd like to do an auction next year for me to tattoo someone," Cote said. "Hopefully I will be better and we can raise money for a good cause."

You know, it's always the goons who are the big softies off the ice, right? George Parros(notes) cuts his hair for Locks of Love. Cote offers up a personalized tattoo. You'd think the best these knuckle-draggers could do for charity would be, like, offering to punch your boss or eating metal or breaking wind in a designated room in your house. But you'd be wrong.

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism

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39 Comments

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  1. Sara
    1. Posted by Sara Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Ummm didn't Rhianna get in really big trouble for doing that a while back? Unless Cote is licensed, both he and the owner of that tattoo shop are potentially in serious doodoo.
    Cool story though and pretty decent job on the tat.
  2. Jerk Store
    2. Posted by Jerk Store Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    still not better than ryan jerkbag malone
  3. knucklehead
    3. Posted by knucklehead Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    ...best looking female Flyer fan I've seen yet.
    @Sara...you said doodoo
  4. Art Vandelay
    4. Posted by Art Vandelay Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:33 pm EDT

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    He should tattoo the letter L on his forehead
  5. jenn
    5. Posted by jenn Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    @ Sara
    Yup, same thing. She didn't get into trouble but the parlor had to pay fines (couple thousand?) for allowing an unlicensed artist to operate on premise. Wonder if they could write that off as "advertising expense."
  6. Kohzlick
    6. Posted by Kohzlick Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:00 pm EDT

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    Why is Cote tattooing a manatee's foot?
  7. 5 4 fighting
    7. Posted by 5 4 fighting Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:47 pm EDT

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    Its good to see the other side of the players-not just the ice side.
  8. Russ Cargill
    8. Posted by Russ Cargill Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:14 pm EDT

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    Friends don't let friends get horrendous tattoos.
  9. M
    9. Posted by M Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:37 pm EDT

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    "Riley Cote of the Philadelphia Flyers is an interesting dude. He's a hockey brawler who trains in MMA during the offseason", only problem is he can't seem to fight his way out of a paper bag. I can't tell you the last toe-to-toe fight he actually won, maybe ever. Pack Cote and that no talent bum Carcillo up , I will buy the bus ticket, and go find just one guy that can fill the fighters role on this team. It is amazing a team steeped in pugilistic lure (mostly fable) doesn't and hasn't had a decent fighter in years.
  10. Guy F
    10. Posted by Guy F Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:40 pm EDT

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    @ M : 5'10", 175 pound Rick Rypien could destroy Cote (and Carcillo). I think the only way Cote could beat Rypien is if he got him in an arm-bar or rear naked choke...Maybe Cote should try "tattooing" somebody's chin with a left. I mean, that's what he's getting paid for if I'm not mistaken. Did you see Brian McGrattan the other night (for the Flames)? He got a goal and an assist AND he can fight. Plus, he's in recovery and does not drink. The Flyers could have had him for nothing. Further, it would only be a matter of time before Brian and Ray starting fighting in practise. Maybe then somebody would get fired up.
  11. Bubbabanjo
    11. Posted by Bubbabanjo Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    Tatoo the Massengale logo on your nose you douche nozzle. Riley Cotex.
    Wyshynski you stink!
  12. JohnJ
    12. Posted by JohnJ Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:32 am EDT

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    If you clowns think Cote is such a [profane] why don't you go fight him and see for yourself...I didn't think so.
  13. Lu
    13. Posted by Lu Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:44 am EDT

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    Not knocking Riley in particular, but the day of the enforcer seems so over in the nhl...brasheer, laraque, cote, parros and others who play 4-5 mins on the 4th line and don't contribute that much toughness because they don't skate fast enough in today's game.
    Beings a Habs fan i was excited to see Laraque joined the Habs, but the truth is these one-dimensional types of players bring very little to the game, becuase they don't play enough minutes to impose themselves. Team toughness is where it's at...look at Detroit, and the Pens in last year's playoffs. No goons, no tough guys, just good, hard, hockey.
    Having said that, i do wish Riley all the best.
  14. joeycol20
    14. Posted by joeycol20 Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:01 am EDT

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    just what the world needs another tattoo "artist" who can't tattoo..look it's a so so story ,but let the tattooing to the pros... what your doing is just giving tattoo artists a bad rap and believe me they don't need any more....good way to get hepatitas though
  15. Dave N
    15. Posted by Dave N Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:17 am EDT

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    Most Flyers fans are brain--dead pigs. Only fitting that Riley Cote got to permanently etch "stupid" on one of them despite the fact that he isn't good at making permanent modifications to people's skin. He should have spent his days off becoming a talented goaltender or #1 defenseman........ 1 got sent to Russia last year and the other was a quality player when the Hartford Whalers were in the league, neither have anything to offer at the NHL level now- and both will be hilarious examples of why the Flyers front office could be run better by people with down's syndrome.
  16. M
    16. Posted by M Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:34 am EDT

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    @LuD, good points but you forgot the most integral part of the decline of the fighter and his role on a team is that the league and it's nouveau leadership will not let the players police the game. Almost daily there is a column on this blog and subsequent outrage over the players conduct on the ice and the lack of punishment. I hate to fall into the trap and sound like an old timer, but even up to15 years ago when someone ran your goalie that someone got punched in the face. If you ever talk to or hear retired players talk and pretty much to a man they acknowledge that there used to be a respect on the ice and it wasn't because they were afraid of the league. All that said Cote has no place in this league for several reasons.
  17. souless
    17. Posted by souless Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:51 am EDT

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    Here in colorado tattoo shops don't have to do anything but keep a sanitary shop, theres no blood test etc. the piercer at by far the biggest shop in town has hep. C (my gf worked with him at a previous shop that fired him when they found out, only to get sued for discrimination) how scary is that!
  18. Sean N
    18. Posted by Sean N Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:49 am EDT

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    I can respect Cote...he's a pugilist and while he doesn't have good goal scoring or passing skills..he doesn't suck so bad that he BITES.
  19. Sean N
    19. Posted by Sean N Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:00 am EDT

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    @ Lu D and @M,
    I dunno..sure it's not like the 1970's...but last year we had bettman come out and say "fighting is part of hockey." That's pretty much condoning it. If they really didn't want fighting in the game that would be easy enough to achieve.
    I wouldn't look at the lack of fighting in the stanley cup championship as evidence that toughness has changed. You guys already know that in the championship series..too much is on the line to dress a goon who can't play and players don't want to risk a stupid penalty or suspension. Guys like Gretzky benefited from having a semenko or mcsorely on the ice..they got more room. Lemieux benefitted from sharing a line with kevin stevens and rick tocchet. Tough guys who can also fill the net will always command a great market price..they allow the star linemates a little more room and less BS from the opposing neanderthals.
  20. IBG
    20. Posted by IBG Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:33 am EDT

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    M,
    I have to diagree. sending Carcillo and Cote on a bus is a very bad move. On the surface, sure, Cote should go, he contributes nothing in the stats. But I suspect some (or most) of Cote's contributions to the team are not measured by stats or box scores. He is tough as nails and I am sure his passion and heart are the reasons why is a Flyer. (Not to mention you can motivate a team by loosing a fight, shhhhhhhhh). Per Holmgren, 'Cote makes this team better just by being here." When you loose that motivator (like the Brian Dawkins debacle), you will notice a loss in swagger. Sure, get rid of Cote, and pick up a top notch "Manny Ramirez" knock out fighter who could give two sh!ts about your team. Is that necessarily better?
    Carcillo on the other hand, a bit of a hot head, is learning and does have offensive skill. He is a fun player to watch, obvious fan favorite, and one tough middle weight fighter. I for one am a Carcillo fan for the most part.
  21. justin P
    21. Posted by justin P Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:07 am EDT

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    good cote is going to need some kind of backup career for when the flyers let him go
  22. Dutch
    22. Posted by Dutch Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:08 am EDT

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    No surprise to Cote sucks at more than just Ice Hockey. Hey JJ I did get in a fight with Cote, last July at a bar in Thunder Bay and I kicked his A$$! It's true. It's true! LOL. Since I loathe the flyers I certainly hope they never get smart enough to hire a guy like M here who knows what he's talking about to run the organization. Seems like just about every other organization in the NHL looks at the calendar and realizes it isn't the 1970s anymore but that Holmgren and Bozo Clarke still believe it is and it is how to win Hockey games. Seems there is one other organization that felt "Getting tough" was the way to go, they're the guys that wear a blue Leaf on their sweaters and the only thing they've won in their first 7 games is a couple of fights!
  23. M
    23. Posted by M Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:26 am EDT

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    @IBG, I hear what your saying but the problem is that along with Cote and Carcillo, they have Asham, Powe and Laperier? All of these guys are doing the same thing. And if we are talking intangibles I would only keep Cote, Carcillo is just bad mojo or something. And in that I would rather just have one guy who can only take 5 shifts a night to keep order. Sort of like the Pens.
    @Sean N, Although bettman said that he also instituted the instigator rule, the no sending a message rule (which clearly should have been called the no message to the penguins rule) and has made it clear he is anti staged fighting. When if in fact if he new anything about the "ingrained legacy" of fighting in this sport he would know that no fight is just staged, the face-off fight is part of the very core of the fighting code.

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