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Abel to Yzerman

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Once and Future Wings

by IwoCPO on 02/27/08 at 10:42 AM ET
Comments (5)

Couple stories to point you to this morning. First, Jiri Fischer will be returning to the ice in an exhibition in Saginaw this Saturday.

On Saturday, the hockey champion will make his first public appearance on the ice since his heart stopped beating. He will raise money to bring devices like the one that revived him to rinks, schools and nonprofit agencies across mid-Michigan.

Fischer will join doctors and paramedics in a 5 p.m. charity hockey game at TheDow Event Center’s Wendler Arena, 303 Johnson, Saginaw.

And Michael Zuidema’s all over the McCarty comeback as he has been since the beginning.

Griffins coach Mike Stothers said McCarty’s remaining time will benefit the team, especially since the Red Wings recently had five Griffins on their roster in goaltender Jimmy Howard, center Mark Hartigan, and defensemen Kyle Quincey, Jonathan Ericsson and Garrett Stafford.

“It’s well-deserved,” Stothers said. “I think he’s worked extremely hard to get himself back into the fold and, you know what, he might just be what the Red Wings are looking for.”

Obviously, great bit of news regarding Fischer.

Now, a word on McCarty.  The other day we pointed you to a story written by George Sipple. It got lost in the shuffle of the deadline, and maybe that’s a good thing...for Sipple.

It was tabloid-like and it appeared centered around the Free Press’ communication with McCarty’s estranged wife.
A few of you reacted to it, the story itself has close to 100 comments on either side of the fence.

Here’s my stance on it.  Darren McCarty made some big mistakes, and those mistakes affected some innocent people: his kids.  I have no stomach for that, but I do know that until you’ve lived a perfect life, one you can point to as the parental standard, I’d take real caution in being too judgmental about someone else’s.

Parenthood is a tough job. Marriage is a tough, challenging job.  Couple those responsibilities with the kind of temptations that must accompany life as a pro athlete and you’ve got situations that the most mature adult would find hard to handle.  Darren McCarty would never fit that description and his mistakes have been public. 

We’d like to see Mac return to form as a hockey player because that’s what we’re about as fans.  We’d also like to see Mac take advantage of this opportunity to re-connect with his kids because that’s who we are as parents and people.

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Comments

McCarty: extremely well said Chief and I couldn’t possibly agree more on all aspects.

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 02/27/08 at 04:06 PM ET

Reading the article on Fisch, it states “...said Fischer, who now works as the assistant general manager for the Red Wings....”

huh?? do they actually mean “Holland’s coffee boy” or what?  I wasn’t aware he had a position with the team.

any info?

Posted by Todzilla on 02/27/08 at 04:54 PM ET

Jiri has a personnel position with the team. Can’t remember his title but I believe he helps/mentors the younger players with their transition to the Wings from their minor club, weither its grand rapids or from overseas.

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 02/28/08 at 12:43 AM ET

Fisch also helps with scouting, I believe, especially with Czech players.  I don’t know if that’s his title, but he’s being paid and is working with the team.

I’m never going to be a father or a pro athlete, but Chief-- spot-on.  Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the pulpit, thumping the Bible on 02/28/08 at 03:13 AM ET

he might just be what the Red Wings are looking for.

Think of what he brings to the table, on the ice and off:  experience, perspective on life, knows what it takes to win and how easy it is to lose it all, enthusiasm, grit, determination…

Did I miss anything?  I think he IS going to be EXACTLY what puts the Wings over the top.  They’ve got the skill, obviously...but McCarty is going to bring that intangible something that every Cup winning team mysteriously has.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/28/08 at 02:25 PM ET

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