Darren Douglas McCarty (born April 1, 1972) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward, best known for his years playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). McCarty has been known more for his fists than his scoring ability, taking on the role of the Red Wings enforcer most of his career, a role in which he won the Stanley Cup four times in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008, the last of which after resurrecting his career in the Red Wings minor league system.
McCarty spent much of his childhood growing up in the small town of Leamington, Ontario, playing for the Southpoint Capitals (OMHA) minor teams.
Video Darren McCarty
Playing career
Belleville Bulls
Played for the OHL Belleville Bulls from 1989-1992. Just as in Detroit, Darren was one of the most popular players in team history for the Bulls. He captained the team in 1991-92, and had 55 goals and 127 pts. He won the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy for the top scoring right winger.
Detroit Red Wings
Drafted in the 2nd round, 49th overall, by the Red Wings in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, McCarty scored 26 points in his rookie season as the Wings won the Central Division title. In the 1996-97 NHL season, McCarty scored a career best 19 goals and 42 points as the Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers for their first Stanley Cup in 42 years. McCarty scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 4. This goal, scored on an inside-outside move around a Flyers' defenseman (Janne Niinimaa), and goalie (Ron Hextall), was honored as one of the best goals of the year.[1]
From the 1997-98 season until his departure from the team, McCarty was part of Detroit's famous Grind Line with center Kris Draper and winger Kirk Maltby, which was often matched up against the opponent's top offensive line.
One of McCarty's most infamous moments was in the famous "Fight Night at the Joe" on March 26, 1997, where a massive brawl broke out between the Colorado Avalanche and Red Wings. McCarty fought Avalanche right winger Claude Lemieux with a blistering punch, and continued punching Lemieux while Lemieux "turtled" his body to avoid damage. The fight was also considered what had broken the curse over the Red Wings, as they went on to win their first Stanley cup in over 40 years. McCarty also scored the overtime winning goal to make it 6-5.
In the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs, McCarty registered his first hat-trick in Game One of the Western Conference Finals against the Colorado Avalanche's Patrick Roy. McCarty scored four goals in the series, a career best. Detroit won the series and eventually a third Stanley Cup in six years.
Calgary Flames
After 11 seasons with the Red Wings, McCarty and the team parted ways as the lockout canceled the 2004-05 NHL season. McCarty's contract was bought out by the Red Wings as a result of the newly implemented salary cap. He then signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames on August 2, 2005. He scored seven goals for the Flames during the regular season. He scored the overtime winning goal in Game 1 of the Flames first round series against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a series Calgary would eventually lose in 7 games. In the 2006-07 season, McCarty appeared in only 32 games and for the first time in his career, failed to score a point.
Flint Generals
On December 31, 2007, the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League announced that McCarty had signed with the team. The Generals are co-owned by McCarty's former Grind Liner, Kris Draper, who encouraged McCarty to make a comeback to professional hockey. McCarty made his home debut for the Generals on January 12, 2008 and recorded one assist in the 4-3 victory. In ten games with the Generals, McCarty had three goals, two assists, and thirty penalty minutes.
Grand Rapids Griffins and return to the Red Wings
On January 30, 2008, The Grand Rapids Press reported that McCarty would sign a professional tryout contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins. On February 4, 2008, this was made official. On his Griffins debut at Van Andel Arena, he tallied a hat trick and added an assist to power Grand Rapids to a 6-3 win over the Lake Erie Monsters.
On February 25, McCarty signed a one-year contract with the Red Wings and was called up on March 7. Facing Nashville in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs, McCarty scored the opening goal in Game Two, a 4-2 Detroit win. The Red Wings eventually won the Stanley Cup in June 2008, McCarty's fourth championship with the team. McCarty signed a one-year contract with the Wings in the offseason.
On November 18, the Red Wings placed McCarty on waivers, knowing he would not be claimed. McCarty cleared waivers and remained with the team. After being sent to Grand Rapids for one game, McCarty was soon recalled. He played 13 games in the 2008-2009 season scoring one goal and 25 penalty minutes. McCarty later suffered a groin strain which landed him on injured reserve in late November. On February 24, 2009 the Detroit Red Wings reassigned McCarty to the Grand Rapids Griffins, after being activated from the injured reserve list. There, he played in 19 games for the Griffins, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists while also collecting 21 penalty minutes. During the Griffins' playoff run McCarty scored 3 goals, 1 assist and 8 penalty minutes in 10 games. After the Griffins were eliminated in the playoffs by the Manitoba Moose, McCarty was recalled by the Red Wings along with several other Griffins players on May 10. [2]
McCarty became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2009. On July 7, 2009 Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland stated that the team would likely release McCarty. [3]
Maps Darren McCarty
Retirement
On December 7, 2009 McCarty officially retired, and had already accepted a job as color analyst for Versus. A fifteen-season veteran and fan favorite in Detroit, McCarty thanked the Red Wings and Flames organizations as well as the fans for helping him to realize his dreams.
Broadcasting
On November 23, 2009 McCarty made his debut as an NHL Analyst for Versus. McCarty made occasional appearances on the Versus post game show, Hockey Central. McCarty served as a fill-in co-host on WXYT-FM (97.1 The Ticket) in Detroit.
McCarty appeared on the January 24, 2012 episode of the truTV reality series Hardcore Pawn, where he appeared with a friend who was trying to sell an alligator hide. Later, American Jewelry and Loan owners Les and Seth Gold and tru TV hired McCarty to do some cameo appearances on the show.
Personal life
McCarty's father, Craig was diagnosed with the multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow and blood, in 1995 at age 23. In 1997, Darren McCarty established the McCarty Cancer Foundation to raise funds to finance research for a cure of this type of cancer.
During the offseason, McCarty is the lead singer for hard rock band "Grinder" which has been in hiatus with the sudden passing of their bass player and friend, James B. Anders from cardiomyopathy.
McCarty appeared on the 2005 ESPN game show Teammates with his teammate on the Red Wings at the time, Brendan Shanahan.
In 2012, McCarty wed long time girlfriend Sheryl Sirmons. He lives in Clawson, Michigan.
McCarty's autobiography, My Last Fight: The True Story of a Hockey Rock Star, was released on December 1, 2013 by Triumph Books.
McCarty is a proponent for the legalization of cannabis. He credits cannabis with helping him overcome his alcohol addiction.
Awards
- 1992: Ontario Hockey League First All-Star Team
- 1992: Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
- 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008: Won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings
- 1998: ESPY Award NHL Play of the Year
- 2003 Named the winner of the NHL Foundation Player Award
Career statistics
References
External links
- Darren McCarty career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
- Detroit Red Wings profile page
- Darren McCarty - ESPY Nominated Goal on Youtube
- McCarty vs. Lemieux on Youtube
Source of article : Wikipedia
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