Aaron Downey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aaron Downey
Downey with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008
Born	(1974-08-27) August 27, 1974 (age 50) Shelburne, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	St. Louis Blues Dallas Stars Chicago Blackhawks Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings Phoenix Coyotes
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1996–2009

Aaron Douglas Downey (born August 27, 1974) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He played for 13 seasons as a professional ice hockey player. Downey played 243 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings.

Aaron Downey was not chosen by any NHL team in the draft. This means he was an "undrafted" player. He was mostly known for being an enforcer. An enforcer is a player who protects their teammates and sometimes gets into fights. Downey also played in many minor leagues. These included teams like the Manitoba Moose and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Aaron Downey's Hockey Journey

Early Years and Junior Hockey

Aaron Downey grew up playing hockey in Honeywood, Ontario. In 1990-91, he played for the Grand Valley Harvesters Jr. C. team. He also competed in wrestling during high school. The next year, in 1991-92, Downey moved up to the Collingwood Blues. This team was part of the Ontario Provincial Jr.A. league.

In 1992-93, Downey joined the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. He joined as a free agent, meaning he wasn't drafted. He was cut from the team in 1993-94. After that, he played two seasons for the Halifax Lions. Later, he signed with the ECHL Hampton Roads Admirals.

Becoming an Enforcer

Downey became well-known for his role as an enforcer. He was ready to stand up for his teammates. One famous moment happened in 2003. He knocked down Carolina Hurricanes player Jesse Boulerice with one punch. This incident caused Boulerice to have a mild concussion and a broken jaw. After this, a commentator called him "Aaron 'One punch and he's' Downey."

Another memorable moment was a "non-fight" in 2006. He squared off with Ottawa Senator Brad Norton. They stood with fists raised for 40 seconds. But they never threw a punch. They were then sent to the penalty box.

Joining the Red Wings and Winning the Stanley Cup

In 2007, Downey was invited to the Detroit Red Wings training camp. He was offered a contract and signed with the team. He started the 2007–08 NHL season with the Red Wings. This was his fourth "Original Six" team. The Original Six are the oldest teams in the NHL.

Downey brought toughness to the Red Wings. He was always willing to fight for his teammates. Before he joined, the Red Wings had few fighting penalties. With Downey, their number of fights increased. His coach, Mike Babcock, often praised him. He liked Downey's positive attitude and willingness to defend others. One of his most famous fights was against Colorado Avalanche player Ian Laperrière. Laperrière had injured Red Wings star Nicklas Lidstrom earlier in the game.

In the 2007–08 NHL season, Downey won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. He did not play in any playoff games. However, he played enough regular-season games (41) to have his name carved on the Cup. This is a great honor for any hockey player.

Final Seasons

Downey spent most of the 2008-2009 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. This was Detroit's minor league team. He played 65 games for the Griffins. He scored 2 goals and had 7 assists. He also had 126 penalty minutes. He played four games for the Red Wings that season. In those games, he scored 1 goal and had 1 assist. His fight against St. Louis Blues player Cam Janssen was very long. Many fans called it one of the best fights of the season.

After the Griffins were eliminated from the playoffs, Downey joined the Red Wings for their playoff run. He did not play in any games. On August 21, 2009, Downey signed with the Phoenix Coyotes. He was released from his tryout contract a month later.

Life After Playing Hockey

In October 2010, Aaron Downey returned to the Red Wings. He became a part-time strength and conditioning coach. This means he helped players get stronger and fitter. He was known for his very strong hands.

On January 24, 2012, Aaron was honored. He was elected to the Hampton Roads/Norfolk Admirals Hall of Fame. He was inducted along with Chris Phelps.

Personal Life

Aaron has a younger brother named Trevor. Trevor plays professional hockey in Ontario. He plays for their hometown team, the Shelburne Muskies. Aaron's oldest brother, Paul, manages the family farm. Aaron is also known for his charity work. He helps the House 9 Foundation for children. He also raises money for leukemia research. This cause is important to him because his relative, Kyle, battled and beat a rare form of leukemia.

Career Statistics