Clint Malarchuk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clint Malarchuk
Malarchuk playing for the Quebec Nordiques in 1986
Born	(1961-05-01) May 1, 1961 (age 64) Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Quebec Nordiques Washington Capitals Buffalo Sabres
NHL Draft	74th overall, 1981 Quebec Nordiques
Playing career	1981–1996

Clint Malarchuk (born May 1, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1981 to 1992. After his playing career, he became a coach for several NHL and minor league teams. He was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. Clint Malarchuk is well-known for surviving a very serious injury during an NHL game in 1989.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in Hockey

Clint Malarchuk began his hockey journey playing junior hockey. He played for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Later, he became a professional player. He joined teams like the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League. He also played for the San Diego Gulls and Las Vegas Thunder in the IHL.

Clint Malarchuk made his first NHL appearance on December 13, 1981. He played for the Nordiques against the Buffalo Sabres. His first game was a 4–4 tie. Two days later, he faced the strong New York Islanders. That game was a tough 10–7 loss. After this, he played mostly in the American Hockey League for a few seasons.

Becoming a Key Goalie

By the 1985–86 season, Malarchuk became the main goaltender for the Quebec Nordiques. He held this position for two seasons. In 1987, he was traded to the Washington Capitals. He played as their starting goalie for about a season and a half. On March 6, 1989, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Buffalo Sabres. Just 16 days later, in only his sixth game with the Sabres, he experienced a very serious injury.

A Life-Changing Moment

On March 22, 1989, during a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Buffalo Sabres, a scary accident happened. Two players crashed near the goal. One player's skate blade accidentally hit Clint Malarchuk's neck. This caused a severe cut to his carotid artery and part of his jugular vein.

Blood immediately gushed onto the ice. Despite the severe injury, Malarchuk managed to leave the ice on his own feet. He was helped by his team's athletic trainer, Jim Pizzutelli. Many people watching were very upset by the sight. Some fans fainted, and some players were sick. Television cameras quickly stopped showing the scene.

Clint Malarchuk thought he might not survive. He wanted to get off the ice so his mother, who was watching, would not see him die. He even asked an equipment manager to call his mother and tell her he loved her.

His life was saved because of the quick actions of Jim Pizzutelli. The trainer, who had experience as a combat medic, immediately grabbed Malarchuk's neck. He pinched the blood vessels to stop the bleeding. He held on tightly until doctors arrived. Malarchuk was conscious and even joked on the way to the hospital. He asked if he could be back for the third period. The game continued once everyone knew he was stable.

Malarchuk lost about 1.5 liters of blood. Doctors needed 300 stitches to close the 6-inch wound. Amazingly, he was back on the ice playing hockey just eleven days later.

Years later, on February 10, 2008, another hockey player, Richard Zedník, suffered a similar neck injury. Malarchuk found it difficult to watch the footage. The incident brought back strong memories of his own injury. He later sought help for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Later Years in Hockey

After his NHL career, Clint Malarchuk continued playing in the IHL. He played for the San Diego Gulls and the Las Vegas Thunder. In 1993–94, he had a great season with the Thunder, winning 34 games. The Las Vegas Thunder even retired his jersey number.

Coaching Career

After he stopped playing, Clint Malarchuk became a coach. He served as a head coach and assistant general manager for the Las Vegas Thunder. He also coached the Idaho Steelheads. Later, he became a goaltending coach for several NHL teams. These included the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers, and Calgary Flames. He left the Calgary Flames in 2014.

Personal Life

Clint Malarchuk is of Ukrainian background. After his hockey career, he lived on a ranch in Nevada. He became a certified veterinary technician. He even worked as a horse dentist.

His nickname in hockey was "the Cowboy Goalie." This was because he was active in the rodeo scene in Alberta during the off-season. He even received horses as a bonus in one of his contracts. He often said his cowboy upbringing helped him be tough when he returned to play after his injury.

Clint Malarchuk wrote a book about his life. It was called The Crazy Game in Canada and A Matter of Inches—How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond in the United States. The book became a bestseller and was made into a documentary.

Clint and his wife, Joanie Malarchuk, now speak publicly. They talk about topics like mental health, dealing with difficult experiences, and supporting people in recovery. They share their story to help others.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

See also

• Exsanguination
• Richard Zedník, hockey player who had a neck artery severed in an in-game accident in 2008
• Adam Johnson, hockey player who died from a similar in-game accident in 2023