Doug McCarthy # 19 Forward

Biography:

The province of Alberta has produced many great players and teams. Teams like the Nordiques, Weststar, Playboys & Snipers just to name a few. And in its history there have been many players that have shined at a National level. The CBHA today is proud to announce that we will be inducting Doug McCarthy into our Hall as one of the best players ever to play this game. Year in year out, at Nationals Championships around Canada. Doug always shined. He is unquestionably the most respected player ever to come out of the Wild Rose province. As such he will be the first player ever inducted from Alberta. Quite an honour. But Doug has always been special.

Doug was the leader and kingpin on the two of the better Alberta teams, the Playboys & the Snipers from Edmonton. Doug was always one of the most dangerous and effective players ever to represent Alberta at the Nationals. A real cerebral player who was a constant offensive threat. He is a very good runner who is, and always was in top shape. He also exuded a skill level and highly ethical sports approach to his play, teammates and foes. Making him one of the most respected players this association has ever had. Doug has yet to be part of a National championship. But this 40 something player showed many at the World Championships in 2003 that he is one of the best players in the World. Playing great ball hockey in pressure packed games in Europe, while helping lead Canada to victory. Finally becoming a World Champ for life.

On behalf of the CBHA...Welcome to our Hall Doug!!
 

Interview:

What type of player would you describe yourself as?
Today I am the stay at home defenseman who basically plays against the other teams top line. My main role with the Snipers is to provide their high powered offense with stability and ball control in the defensive end. For the first 10 or 12 years my role was to initiate speed and aggression into the offense of the Edmonton Playboys. We were mainly a two line team and my role was as the two way centerman who took care of our own end and was relied upon to generate offense and leadership. Individually I always had a fair amount of skill, speed and tenacity. I never had a big shot (which is very detrimental in ball hockey) and scored most of my goals within inches of the net. I was never a flashy player, and wasn't concerned with stats or scoring races, therefore I rarely stood out of the crowd at first glance. However I usually gained respect after playing with players or against them for numerous seasons due to the fact that I did many things very well but none truly great. As with my ice-hockey career respect and accolades took time to manifest itself.

Why did ball hockey become so important to you?
My best friends all played ball hockey and we kind have gravitated and fed off the competitive nature and camaraderie of the game. We grew from teenagers into men and then family men together and ball hockey was the meeting place and connection that kept us all close.

The lure of the game is very strong due to its simplicity and basic Canadian iconic Culture. Ball Hockey enables grown men to rehash their youth, striving for physical and mental improvement as they had done as teenagers and younger athletes. Even at 42, knowing there is an impending ball hockey season post snowfall, gives me motivation to attain a level of fitness and self-improvement.

What would you say to young players if you had a chance to? Regarding reaching for National prominence at our game?
As with any activity, striving to be the best that you can is an oft-quoted but valuable cliché. People all have passions in life and if ball hockey happens to be yours take it to heart. Many players I've known always talk about what they are going to do next year, or what they should do next season but forget the passion that the ball hockey season exudes during the course of the winter. What then happens is the season rolls along and practices; strategy and individual skills are put on the backburner until the week before provincials. To gain prominence at this game one must put in the time and effort almost year round preparing for the rigours and challenges a League, Provincial, National Championship or World Championship Opportunity with Team Canada can bring.

As an athlete, respect the game and those that compete at the highest level. As with any athletic endeavour there is an amount of sacrifice and preparation that enables a good player or team to become great. Top level ice-hockey players have the benefit of using the winter season as a springboard, however too often their great skill and conditioning is underutilized as they look at ball hockey as just a fun activity.

Ball hockey is an athletic endeavour to which there is a world championship, if one aspires to gain national prominence, give the game the passion and tenacity all world-class sports deserve.

Doug, you made the adjustment to high scoring offensive forward to skilled controlled defenceman in your career. Was that a tough adjustment?
When my offensive skills depleted I had to make the adjustment so that I could compete at the top level. I had had plenty of experience back on the point (though for the first few years there were few shifts when I was actually back behind the forwards!) and I kind of migrated back when the speed and strength left me.

What was your most memorable game, or memory at the Nationals?
The Nationals have brought so many great memories it is hard to depict only one. The most memorable week though was in Ottawa during the 93 Nationals. We showed up with our usual 12 or 13 players and were in the peak of our lives. During the semi-finals we lost to the Fernview Rangers 4-3 from a last minute goal with a wrist shot from inside the Red Line.

In the dressing room after the game I looked at a bunch of guys who were drywallers, auto body men, taxi drivers, accountants, labourer's, salesmen etc, and had such a deep respect for them and what they had gone through. I was a professional athlete at the time and was use to the rigours the Nationals may exact on a body, but I seen many of my best friends (working men) with Stanley Cup playoff type injuries. We had a broken hand, two pulled groins, a broken toe, a hamstring injury and our Captain Malcolm Stinson with a broken back. The memory I remember most though was looking at our goalie (he played every minute of every game), James McKay, and seeing the pained expression on his face. It turns out his face muscles had ceased up (it looked as though he had a stroke) due to the heat exhaustion he underwent during the week. All of us played the bronze medal game (except for the broken hand) and the Playboys won their first Nationals Medal. I was never so proud of those guys.

What was the best Nationals you ever played in? 
They've all been great. 93 was definitely the best calibre, with the strongest number of teams that could potentially knock off Fernview. However back in the 80's I enjoyed Nationals due to the number of different Provinces being represented. In 87 (I think) in Moncton, I believe there were 9 of 10 provinces represented, and I liked the fact that only one team per province got the opportunity to go to Nationals.

Doug you played on some very good teams at the Nationals, the Playboys, & Snipers. Knowing the talent of the province and great teams of the past like the Nordiques, & Weststar. Why has a National championship eluded Alberta. And do you think one is close by?
I hope one is close by. After seeing the commitment some of the Montreal and Ontario players put in at 2003 Worlds it may take a special group to actually put in the same determination and focus and take home gold. The Snipers are another story-they are getting to the age where the time is now. It may take for one of the big guns to step up and be the superstar of the tournament much like Red Light and the Express have had the last few years. The Snipers will be prepared this year and all roles will be filled but we will need one guy or one line to step up and say this is their tournament, this is their time.

What did it mean to you to play for Canada and win Gold in 2003?
For ball hockey it was my Mount Everest. It was validation of my love and the sacrifice I gave to the game of ball hockey. The event, venue, tournament, coaching staff and fellow team-mates created a passion in me that is only reached a few times in ones life. Being 40 years old, playing with and against the best players in the world, representing Canada with the maple leaf on my chest was my pinnacle. The pressure and excitement of the semi-final and gold medal games will never be forgotten. It is a sensation I hope many other Edmonton players get an opportunity to share.

What does it mean to you to be the first Alberta player in our sports Hall?
It is obviously a huge honour. With the thousands of Albertans who've played the game, and the great players that we've had I am humbled to be the first into the hall of fame.

After all these years. What has your career in our sport done for you as a person?
This sport above all has giving me the thing that is most important in life. Friendships- companionship. My sister played and it was something that kept us close and connected, my wife played, so she understands why I'm still out their, and my best friends played. A few of us have been together a long time (I've now been friends with Dino Michetti for over 37 years, and Malcolm Stinson for 23) and the game is our reference point, it is the ice breaker on the phone calls, the reason for a beer, something to talk about when our kids play together, our circle for summer barbeques, etc. In life you surround yourselves with like minded people and for my life it has been a fraternity of hockey guys - the best guys I know.

What do you see ahead for our sport? 
Now that there is a world governing body and with it, world wide organization, I see ball hockey getting more and more exposure. With the passion shown from other counties and especially Europe, ball hockey is soon to be accepted into mainstream athletic events. Following the lead from roller hockey (which has only been around for 12 years) I see ball hockey as the perfect fit for events like the Pan Am games, European championships, World Masters games, etc. With 4000 fans regularly showing up to watch Team Canada during the 2003 Worlds in Switzerland there is obviously a market out their for events, players and organizers. I hope I'm giving the opportunity to see it come to fruition.
 

Career:

• Nordiques
• Weststar
• Playboys
• Snipers