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Date: Jan 12, 2023
Photo courtesy of Paul Wright Photography
Kevin Boston, Special to the OHA
Ask any hockey expert about what they look for in a great hockey player, they will say skill, smarts, speed and strength. Darren Haydar of the Dundas Real McCoys is a player who definitely fits those three categories.
Darren Haydar is one of the most prolific hockey players to ever suit up in the American Hockey League (AHL). The Milton, Ont. native is the AHL’s All-Time playoffs scoring Leader with playoff goals (63), assists (80) and points (143) and holds the records for longest consecutive point scoring streak with 39 games in 2006-2007 with the Chicago Wolves notching 79 points during that streak. However, as Haydar explained that any individual success has to be followed with team success. He certainly shines in this area as well winning two Calder Cup Championships with the Milwaukee Admirals (2003-04) and the Chicago Wolves (2007-08).
Growing up in Milton was a great experience for Haydar. He played his minor hockey there and went on to the Milton Merchants of the OJHL from 1995 to 1998 where he tore the league apart with 240 points over that time span including his stellar 71 goal performance in only 51 games in 1997-1998. His passion was to play hockey at a higher level and looked at all of his options including going to the NCAA.
“Matt Van Arkel lived with us in Milton and he was a blue-chip prospect for the NCAA, so I got exposed to that a little bit,” Haydar explained. With no Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team guaranteeing him a spot, he went to the University of New Hampshire where he said “the College atmosphere was second-to-none.”
During his freshman year, the University of New Hampshire Wildcats, went on to the Frozen Four only to lose in double-overtime. Haydar ended up finishing his NCAA Career with 219 points for third all-time in Wildcats history.
As the NHL Draft approached, Haydar remained level-headed about the entire situation. Academics came first for him as he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the ninth round, 248th overall during the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
“At the time I was told that I would go anywhere from 3rd round to not being taken at all so I didn’t go to the draft,” he said. “When you are a college player, sometimes it is better to be a free agent so I wasn’t getting too high or low on it.”
He spent most of his time with the Predators’ farm team, the Milwaukee Admirals where he flourished in four seasons scoring 276 points in 293 games while getting called up briefly by the NHL team for two games in 2002-2003.
Haydar signed with the Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL in 2006-07 and was assigned to their minor league affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Again, he lit the scoresheets up where he put up 41 goals and 122 points, won the league scoring championship and was named league MVP in his first season. Included in his time in Chicago was the infamous AHL record 39 game scoring streak.
“The streak was a lot of fun. I appreciate it a lot more now because at the time, my goal wasn’t to do that. My goal was to make it to the NHL,” he reflected on. “I look at it now and say, ‘wow, that was pretty darn good’. I really appreciate it considering that some management told me that I wasn’t consistent enough to make it.”
Perhaps Haydar’s biggest challenge of his life came during his time with Chicago. He felt fatigued during games but didn’t think too much of it until he went into the team’s cold tub after a game.
“It was like a major burning sensation down the left side of my body,” he explained. “When you get into a cold tub, you shouldn’t feel that so I went to the doctor to get checked out.”
Haydar was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
MS is a life-altering condition where the MS Society of Canada estimates one in every 385 Canadians live with the disease. The disease affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) and is unpredictable.
According to the MS Society of Canada, “it can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.” There is no cure but researchers are looking for one while people raise awareness for the disease.
It is something that Haydar has learned to manage by talking with others who have the disease and taking his daily medicine.
”I have my routine,” he said, “I try to reduce stress as much as I can and raise awareness about it.”
Three years ago, Haydar started a golf tournament that raises funds for the MS Society of Canada Hamilton Chapter and has raised $100,000.
Playing hockey with the disease hasn’t had too much of an effect on him physically but he credits hockey as his “happy place”. Hockey is his comfort zone where the daily stresses of life and his disease escape him.
After he was diagnosed, Haydar continued his hockey career in Europe when he signed a one-year contract in Europe with EHC München of the DEL on July 25, 2013. He loved the experience there and described it as a place he always wanted to go and play.
While in Europe, he had perhaps his most exciting hockey experience when he was selected to represent Canada at the Spengler Cup in 2013. There he finished in a tie with Byron Ritchie for the team scoring lead with a pair of goals and four assists.
“All I can say is ‘wow’ about how Hockey Canada treated us,” he recalled. “The Spengler Cup is truly amazing! The old building gives you chills being there and makes you think of hockey history.”
Following his European career, he returned home to Milton to start his post-hockey career in real estate with his brother.
Working in real estate allows him the flexibility to manage his time, the disease, spend time with his family and now enjoy playing with the Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league.
“Everything I heard about the league prior to playing was the old stereotypes but when you get out there, it is fast-paced hockey,” he said. “Everyone has a job and it’s great to be back in the locker room with the guys.”
Allan Cup Hockey gave him an opportunity to play higher end hockey in a fast-paced environment which is something he has really enjoyed.
He takes his leadership skills of being an effective communicator and ability to create offence to the Real McCoys. Outside of that, Haydar is also enjoying time coaching minor hockey with the Bantam AAA Halton Hurricanes and running private lessons for teams and individuals.
“I try to teach players the small nuances of stick placement et cetera that I learned in Jr or later,” he explained. “It’s important to teach these players these little details at an earlier age so when they get to Jr or College or whatever level they aspire to get to, they are more prepared.”
Preparation is key to success no matter if you are a successful hockey player or a person dealing with a disease. How you manage yourself and prepare mentally for the daily challenges in life makes one stronger. Darren Haydar is perhaps one of the strongest individuals you will ever meet.