It’s been 13-years since Darren McCarty pummeled Claude Lemieux in retaliation for Lemieux’s hit on Kris Draper in the 1996 playoffs, which sent Draper’s face straight into the edge of the boards, completely destroying it, and forcing him to eat/drink through a straw for eight weeks. A few days ago, they met eachother for the first time off the ice to discuss ‘the fight.’
This is a must see 20-minute, or so, segment between two former grinders that shared a passionate hate for one another on the ice and brawled in what has been described as two of the biggest fights in NHL history.
If you’re looking for some tension and even as much as an on-air brawl to break loose, you will be disappointed, though. They speak candidly of the incidents as if it was just a part of the game, share a couple laughs, and even shake hands at the very end.
For as much as I dislike Lemieux, I can’t really argue with some of the things he has to say. He was a dirty player and the hit was 100% trash, but I believe him when he says that he didn’t do it with any intention of putting Drapes in a hospital bed. In fact, I probably came out of this interview liking him more than I did beforehand. As for McCarty, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for his time in Detroit and loyalty to his teammate/best friend.
I’ve embedded the three parts of the show. Have a looksie and leave any thoughts in the comments:
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