Darren Pang facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Darren Pang |
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Pang in 2010
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| Born | February 17, 1964 Meaford, Ontario, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) | ||
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1984–1989 | ||
Darren Robert Pang (born February 17, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played his professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Today, Darren Pang is a well-known TV commentator for ice hockey. He is the main commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks television broadcasts. He also works as a commentator for national games on TNT and for the NHL Network.
Playing Hockey
Darren Pang started playing hockey in Nepean, Ontario. He played for the Nepean Raiders. When he was young, he played alongside many future NHL players. These included Doug Smith, Dan Quinn, and Steve Yzerman. He even played in the 1977 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
He was the first goalie ever picked by the Belleville Bulls team. He helped them win their first game in the OHL. Later, he joined the Ottawa 67's. With the 67's, he won the important Memorial Cup in 1984. He was also named the Top Goalie and made the All-Star team that year.
Darren Pang was not a tall goalie. He stood at 5 feet 5 inches. This made him the second shortest goalie to ever play in the NHL! Only Roy "Shrimp" Worters was shorter. People used to joke that he had a "sixth hole" above his head. This meant shots could sometimes go over him.
In the 1987–88 season, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. He was also a finalist for the Calder Trophy. This award goes to the NHL's best rookie player. He got his first NHL win on October 18, 1987. It was against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Chicago Blackhawks signed Darren Pang in 1984. He even set a record for Blackhawks goalies. He had six assists in the 1987–1988 NHL season. He earned nine points in his short NHL career. Sadly, a knee injury during training camp ended his playing career. He had to retire on September 21, 1990.
Life as a Commentator
After his playing career, Darren Pang became a very popular hockey commentator. He is now the main TV commentator for the Chicago Blackhawks. He also works as an ice-level analyst for national games on TNT. You can also see him on the NHL Network.
Before joining TNT, he was an ice-level analyst for NBC. He also worked for Home Ice on XM Satellite Radio. This is a radio channel all about hockey. Before working with the Blackhawks, he was a commentator for the Phoenix Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues. He also worked part-time for TSN.
On July 9, 2009, he became the TV commentator for the St. Louis Blues. He worked with John Kelly. Then, on June 8, 2023, he moved to the Blackhawks broadcasts. This was a big move, as the Blackhawks and Blues are rivals!
Pang was also a top analyst for ESPN and ABC for 13 seasons. He has broadcast over 95 Stanley Cup Finals games on national TV. He has also worked as an analyst for three Winter Olympics. At the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan, he was the first reporter to get full access "between the benches." This meant no glass separated him from the players' benches! He also worked at the 2002 Olympics for NBC. In 2010, he was a studio analyst for CTV/TSN.
Career Highlights
Darren Pang played in 81 NHL games. He had 27 wins, 35 losses, and 7 ties. His goals against average (GAA) was 4.05, and his save percentage was .882.
