Scott Darling (ice hockey)

Scott Darling

Darling with the Chicago Blackhawks in December 2014
Born (1988-12-22) December 22, 1988
Newport News, Virginia, U.S.[1]
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 232 lb (105 kg; 16 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team Chicago Blackhawks
National team  United States
NHL Draft 153rd overall, 2007
Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career 2010–present

Scott Darling (born December 22, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the sixth round, 153rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Personal

Born in Newport News, Virginia, Darling was the son of an Army officer who was stationed at Ft. Lewis, WA and Ft. Rucker, AL before the family finally settled in the Chicago suburb of Lemont.[2] Darling grew up in Chicago's southern suburb of Lemont, Illinois and as a child, idolized the Chicago Blackhawks' goaltender Ed Belfour. He played youth hockey with the AA Vikings (Orland Park), AA Huskies (then Darien, now Romeoville), and AAA Team Illinois and Chicago Young Americans. He attended Notre Dame College in Wilcox, SK in 8th grade and played AAA hockey for the Hounds. He attended Lemont High School. At the University of Maine, he was involved in excessive partying and by his sophomore year was abusing alcohol. He frequently violated the school's code of conduct and was given 3 suspensions within a 16-month period resulting in him being dropped from the hockey team.[3]

After bouncing around for several years through various minor hockey leagues, his goalie coach Brian Daccord said that he was not permitted to play at his hockey school until he made a dedicated commitment to the gym. It was at this time, he lost nearly 40 lbs and gave up alcohol in 2011.[4][5]

Darling said even at the lowest point, after being cut from what might have been the worst team in organized hockey, he never forgot something his father told him about getting ahead: "It was kind of like his motto — 'Saw the wood that's in front of you.'" [6]

On January 31, 2016, Darling's girlfriend, Martha, posted a picture of her engagement ring to her Instagram and mentioned Darling. Darling confirmed the engagement the following day on his Instagram.

Playing career

Collegiate

Prior to turning professional, Darling attended the University of Maine, where he played two seasons of NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey with the Black Bears ice hockey team.[7]

Professional

In the 2013–14 season, Darling enjoyed his most successful American Hockey League (AHL) season, earning 13 wins in 26 games with the Milwaukee Admirals.[8]

On July 1, 2014, the Chicago Blackhawks signed Darling as a free agent to his first NHL contract on a one-year deal.[9] Darling made his NHL debut on October 26, 2014, starting in goal against the Ottawa Senators, making 32 saves in the 2–1 win.[10][11] He became the first former Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) player to play in an NHL game.[12]

On November 1, 2014, it was announced that Darling had been reassigned to the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, following starting goaltender Corey Crawford's recovery from an upper-body injury.[13] However, he was recalled two weeks later, on November 15, 2014.[14]

On February 22, 2015, Darling was promoted from Rockford and placed onto Chicago's NHL roster, replacing Antti Raanta as the team's backup goaltender, whom himself was demoted to Rockford. The Blackhawks also signed a Darling to a two-year contract extension.[15]

On March 18, 2015, Darling recorded his first NHL shutout in a Blackhawks' victory over the New York Rangers.[16] On April 15, 2015, Darling recorded his first playoff win after replacing Crawford in net, making 42 saves, with the Blackhawks defeating the Nashville Predators 4-3 in double overtime.[17] Darling set an NHL record in his debut for the longest relief appearance without allowing a goal (67:44), as well as the most saves in relief without allowing a goal (42).

On June 15, 2015, Darling became the first Chicago-area native player to win a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. [18]

Darling played in Wayne Gretzky "Ice Hockey Classic" for Team USA in the summer of 2016 in Australia.

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT Min GA SO GAA SV% GP W L Min GA SO GAA SV%
2005–06 North Iowa Outlaws NAHL 8 2 4 0 405 28 0 4.15 .888 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 North Iowa Outlaws NAHL 1 0 0 0 15 3 0 12.00 .786 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Capital District Selects EJHL 22 9 9 3 1,242 70 1 3.38 .924 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Indiana Ice USHL 42 27 10 2 2,391 121 1 3.04 .908 3 1 2 179 11 0 3.69 .889
2008–09 University of Maine HE 27 10 14 3 1,566 72 3 2.76 .895 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 University of Maine HE 27 15 6 3 1,511 78 0 3.10 .895 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Louisiana IceGators SPHL 30 6 22 0 1,598 102 0 3.83 .892 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Mississippi RiverKings SPHL 35 15 17 1 2,055 100 1 2.92 .905 1 0 1 59 5 0 5.12 .762
2011–12 Florida Everblades ECHL 1 0 1 0 58 5 0 5.14 .773 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Wichita Thunder CHL 1 0 1 0 60 4 0 4.01 .840 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 32 13 12 4 1,819 85 2 2.80 .907 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 1 0 0 0 25 0 0 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 26 13 6 2 1,347 45 6 2.00 .933 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 6 4 1 1 368 16 0 2.61 .916 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Rockford Icehogs AHL 26 14 8 0 1419 52 2 2.20 .927 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 14 9 4 0 833 27 1 1.94 .936 5 3 1 298 11 0 2.28 .936
2015–16 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 29 12 8 3 1551 67 1 2.58 .915 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 43 21 12 4 2393 94 2 2.36 .922 5 3 1 298 11 0 2.28 .936

References

  1. ↑ "An Interview with Goalie Scott Darling of the Chicago Blackhawks". Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ↑ http://puckjunk.com/2014/12/23/interview-goalie-scott-darling-chicago-blackhawks/
  3. ↑ Jeff Simmons (2015-04-16). "Person of Interest: The 411 on Scott Darling". Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  4. ↑ Sal Barry (2014-12-23). "An Interview with Goalie Scott Darling of the Chicago Blackhawks". Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  5. ↑ Ken Campbell (2014-11-17). "After overcoming his demons, Scott Darling wants to make mark on the NHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2014-12-30.
  6. ↑ Jim Litke (2015-04-15). "From south suburbs to lowest rung of minors, local hero Scott Darling finally back home". Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  7. ↑ "Royals Sign Goaltender Scott Darling". OurSportsCentral.com. 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  8. ↑ "Scott Darling nets shutout in first start between pipes for Admirals". jsonline.com. 2013-11-02. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  9. ↑ "Blackhawks agree to terms with three". Chicago Blackhawks. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  10. ↑ Hedger, Brian. "Blackhawks to start rookie goaltender vs. Senators". http://www.nhl.com/. National Hockey League. Retrieved 26 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  11. ↑ "Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks - 10/26/2014". http://www.nhl.com/. National Hockey League. Retrieved 27 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  12. ↑ "Former SPHL Goaltender Scott Darling Win NHL Debut". http://www.thesphl.com/. Southern Professional Hockey League. Retrieved 27 October 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  13. ↑ Myers, Tracey (November 1, 2014). "Blackhawks updates: Crawford starts, Darling reassigned". CSN Chicago. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Blackhawks recall Darling, assign Raanta". Chicago Blackhawks. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Blackhawks recall goalie Darling, send down Raanta". ChicagoBlackhawks.com. February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ Danny Knobler (18 March 2015). "Brad Richards, Scott Darling enjoy unforgettable outings in win at Rangers". Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Blackhawks top Preds in 2OT after 3-goal deficit, pulling Corey Crawford". 21 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Scott Darling: First Blackhawk raised in Chicago area to win Stanley Cup". 16 June 2015.
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