Hockey Fight Night - 3 Lessons Learned

I recently had the honor of being asked to moderate a video podcast interview between two hockey warriors that collectively possess Eight Stanley Cup Championships.

4x Cup Champion, Darren McCarty and 4x Cup Champion & Conn Smythe trophy recipient (MVP), Claude Lemieux.

Both professional athletes had lengthy and successful professional careers. Both athletes had epic challenges.

McCarty had a horrific and very public transition from sports. Drugs, gambling, and divorces. Best put by McCarty himself about this transition, "The next step for me would've been death." He approached his departure from hockey the way he played it.....hardnosed and relentless.

Lemieux was known throughout hockey as an instigator. Someone opponents (and fans) learned to dislike. This role served him well, although, at a heavy cost of damaged professional relationships throughout his hockey career.

A defining moment of these two hockey gladiators happened 25 years ago when they clashed together in a legendary fight that forever changed hockey history. This heated exchange sparked a hockey rivalry that involved not only the players and coaches, but their respective communities sparked by the local media.

During my podcast interview it was clear that both men had their reasons for elevated anger against each other, as well as a motivation to stand up for their teammates.

The fight(s) that occurred between McCarty and Lemieux made hockey lore, but the lessons learned 25 years later are that from a movie where after an intense effort to hurt the other, a mutual respect and bond is formed.

The details that led up to their fight are hockey history, however, the lessons learned since are golden nuggets for life....on and off the ice.

Lesson #1 - People Can Change It became apparent early in my interview that both men have changed since their well-chronicled clash of the titans. Although the competitive spirit that helped them rise to the height of their professional athlete careers was apparent, they displayed a softer, mutual respect for the men they have become since.

Lesson #2 - Change Takes Time Having this interview 25 days after their epic fight would've likely provided a very different outcome. Both McCarty and Lemieux have benefited from time and reflection of their actions to the point they understand and appreciate the other's position from 25 years prior.

Lesson #3 - It's Okay to Ask for Help Both McCarty and Lemieux have now created successes for themselves since professional hockey. Part of that success can be attributed to their willingness to reach out to others along their journey, to assist in this transition.

Two well-defined champions that reunited 25 years later with the goal of sharing life lessons applicable on and off the ice.

I encourage you to watch this intimate interview between 8x Stanley Cup Champions Darren McCarty and Claude Lemieux.

Full interview: https://youtu.be/KrSsdqKHM1s

I also encourage you to go to my TV website and subscribe for future updates at: www.FromGloryDays.com