Tie Domi fights back tears during his retirement news conference in Toronto. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Ever the hockey tough guy, Tie Domi refused to cry.

The square-jawed, longtime Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer choked back emotion, insisting his retirement was cause for celebration, not tears.

"This is a happy day," said Domi during his farewell news conference in Toronto this week. "I kiss my lucky charms. I was one of a few guys who got to play in [Toronto] for so long and become a household name."

Domi spent 11 of his 16 seasons with the Maple Leafs, and while he wasn't the most talented player, his bull-in-a-china-shop approach made him a folk hero in Toronto and a fan favourite wherever he went.

"People love guys who give 100 per cent and will drop them every once and a while," Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry told CBC Sports Online when asked to explain Domi's popularity.

"He was the most popular in Peterborough. He was the most popular in New York, Winnipeg and Toronto."

No. 3 in penalty minutes

Born in Windsor, Ont., Domi had a decent junior career with the Ontario Hockey League's Peterborough Petes. Picked 27th overall in the 1988 NHL draft, he played more than 1,000 games in his career, with the Jets, Rangers and Leafs, scoring 104 goals and 141 assists.

But the number that best captures Domi's contribution to the game is penalty minutes.

Domi's 3,515 penalty minutes are the third-most amassed by an NHL player – only Dave (Tiger) Williams and Dale Hunter have more – and he made his biggest impact on hockey with his fists.

Despite his five-foot-10 frame, Domi played hockey a foot taller, taking on all comers – no matter the size - and rarely losing. His battles with likes of Bob Probert and Joey Kocur are still discussed in bars today.

Balance was the key to Domi's success as a fighter, says Don Cherry. (Kevin Frayer/Associated Press)

"He had great balance," said Cherry when asked why Domi was such a successful pugilist. "His feet were wide apart and he wasn't afraid to get hit.

"You can do a lot if you aren't afraid to get hit."

Under Domi's watchful eye, snipers like Mats Sundin in Toronto, and Teemu Selanne in Winnipeg were given room to operate on the ice.

"He looked after me and I'll certainly owe him that for the rest of my life," said Sundin, who lobbied the Leafs' management to bring Domi back for one more season.

'Toughest job in hockey'

While he always knew his role, Domi acknowledged being a policeman didn't come easy sometimes.

"It's the toughest job in hockey, no question about it," said Domi.

"There are nights when I had injuries to my hand or my shoulder. The other team doesn't know that. The 18,000 fans in the seats don't know about it.

"But there's no excuse when you're playing."

Domi endured a difficult last season in Toronto. Now 36 years old, he struggled to find his niche in the new NHL, a game dominated by penalty killing and power plays, with less room for even-strength hockey – where Domi earned most of his ice time.

"It's difficult to get into the groove when you're not playing much," Domi said.

Under-appreciated talent

Cherry, always one of Domi's most vocal supporters, was at a loss to explain the Domi's relegation to the Leafs' fourth line, saying he wasn't your run-of-the-mill, hands-of-stone enforcer.

"He scored 15 goals [during 2002-03 season] and he never played," said Cherry. "I never understood why he didn’t get a chance on the power play."

Domi was determined to redeem himself and wipe away memories of last year. He spent the off-season working himself into shape, but once he stepped onto the ice during the Leafs' training camp, he knew it was time to hang up the skates.

"If I was playing this year, the way I felt on the ice, we may be having this [retirement] press conference today anyway."

But even if Domi's body was able, Leafs management wasn't willing. John Ferguson, Toronto's general manager, didn't want Domi and bought out the final year of his contract.

Other teams expressed interest in Domi, but he says he couldn't see himself wearing anything but the Leafs' blue and white.

"I love the Toronto Maple Leafs. This is my home."

He also insists he isn't bitter about how his career concluded and doesn't resent Ferguson.

"I am not bitter at the game,'' he said. "Business is business."

Regrets cheap shot

As for regrets, Domi has a few, including not winning a Stanley Cup and his infamous cheap-shot elbow against Scott Niedermayer during the 2001 playoffs versus New Jersey.

"It had been the game of my life," Domi said."Two days before that, [Niedermayer] put his Easton in my face [cutting his lip] and kind of laughed at me. I told him, 'I'll get you back.'"

Captain Mats Sundin, right, lobbied for Leafs management to bring Domi back for one more season. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Domi missed the rest of the playoffs and eight games of the following season with a suspension. New Jersey ended up defeating Toronto in the seven-game series.

"That was probably the stupidest thing I did in my career," he said. "I regret it."

Domi also acknowledged former New York Ranger Mark Messier, saying the legendary captain pulled him aside early in his career and "advised" him to stop showboating if he wanted the respect of his peers.

"I kind of did a lot of stupid things," explained Domi, who use to taunt his opponents after fights by punching an imaginary speed bag or putting on an invisible wrestling championship belt.

"Messier made a difference in my career."

Being retired doesn't mean Domi is leaving hockey. During his retirement press conference, he announced he was joining Canadian cable sports network TSN as an analyst.

"Maybe I'll need a six-second delay when I start," said Domi, who promised not to be a "vanilla" TV personality.

Could Domi one day rival Cherry, a man who once warranted a seven-second delay?

"I'm sure he's going to be good," offered HNIC's colourful coach, "but let's not go that far."