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WHL Medicine Hat Tigers

Former Tiger Ends Storied NHL Career

July 6, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Medicine Hat Tigers News Release


Medicine Hat, AB - After 16 seasons and two Stanley Cup rings to his name, former Medicine Hat Tiger Darren Helm has announced his retirement from the NHL July 5, 2023.

Helm (St. Andrews, MB) played in 823 NHL games with the majority of them with the Detroit Red Wings the team that drafted him in 2005 in the 5th round, #132nd overall. But also spent time with the Colorado Avalanche in the final two seasons of his career, his experience helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup in 2021-22.

Helm ends his NHL career with 266 points (119 goals, 147 assists) and 256 penalty minutes, Helm also lead the NHL playoffs in hits in 2008-09 with the Red Wings registering 118 on the run to his first Stanley Cup with the Red Wings scoring 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 23 games.

His tenure with the Tigers is a memorable one as he helped guide the Tigers to their fifth WHL Championship in 2006-07, while he won a gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships that season and was also named a WHL Eastern Conference, Second Team All-star. During the 2007 Memorial Cup in Vancouver, Helm was named the Memorial Cup All-Star Team where Tigers went all the way to the final before losing to the eventual champions the Vancouver Giants.

Tigers Head Coach & General Manager Willie Desjardins, who coached helm during his first tenure with Medicine Hat says he was the definition of what it takes to be a Tiger.

"Darren came in as an unknown for us, but little did we know what he'd do for the culture of our hockey team," he says. "Helmer came in, we were on the fence if he would make our team but his dedication to the game was unmeasurable with his work ethic, he set the tempo in our practices and he helped pave the way for how we became a team built on speed."

Helm in 2005-06 season with the Tigers was named an Eastern Conference 1st Team all-star, his career in the WHL spans three seasons with 201 game played, scoring 167 points (76 goals, 91 assists) with 117 PIMs.

Desjardins added that Helm had an exceptional career in the NHL that he got to see with his own two eyes when he coached against him. "What an amazing career, he was a warrior," he says. "He's a great story for young players coming up on what it takes to be a pro,".

Desjardins added one intriguing story about his time in Medicine Hat. "He's a great story here in Medicine Hat, he would be the last one to leave as he was still working out when I was in the building long after practice. I told him when you you get a girlfriend I doubt you'll be here as long, well he did but was still here long after working out and working on details that made himself the player he is today."

He married his wife Devon, the same girlfriend from Medicine Hat, and have three girls together.

The Tigers would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Darren and his family on a great career and enjoy retirement and we can't wait to see what's next for a member of their storied alumni and hope to see him again in Medicine Hat one day.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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