He wears No. 25 for the Detroit Red Wings, but Darren McCarty is more than just a hockey player. He is one of hockey's "Good Guys" off the ice.

To look at him without the hockey equipment on you might think Detroit Red Wings right winger Darren McCarty might be the newest member of the band Metallica.

But, he's not.

McCarty does have a rock band called "Grinder," which is an appropriate name for a player who plays on the Red Wings "Grind line," with Kirk Maltby and best friend Kris Draper.

Grind could also be used to describe McCarty's style of hockey.

Growing up in Leamington, Ontario, not far from the city of Detroit, McCarty played catcher for his little league baseball team.

His favorite athletes were Brett Farve and former NHL tough guy, Rick Tocchet, who ironically is now the assistant coach for the Red Wings' biggest rivals, the Colorado Avalanche.

McCarty stated after the Red Wings 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings, on March 20th, that he admired the way Tocchet played the game.

"He wasn't afraid to mix it up, but he could score goals too," McCarty said.

McCarty could have been describing his own style as well ? mixing it up with opponents, but also putting the puck into the net.

Some athletes don't consider themselves role models, but McCarty isn't one of them.

Rather than going back home to Canada in the off season, the McCarty family stay in the area.

His father died in 1999 from multiple myeloma, which is a terminal cancer. As a result, McCarty founded the McCarty Cancer Foundation.

Working with the foundation isn't something Darren has to do. It is something that he wants to do.

"Being an athlete, it's important to give something back to the community," McCarty said.

That isn't just idle talk from the rugged right winger with the big heart.

The cancer foundation may take up most of McCarty's time, but it isn't the only charity that he cares deeply about.

He is also active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as the Motor City Mitten Madness, which donates not only mittens, but clothes to the homeless in Detroit during the winter months.

For his efforts, in the 2002-2003 hockey season, the NHL awarded him the NHL Foundation Award.

The money that he received, $25,000, was given to the foundation that is closest to his heart -- the McCarty Cancer Foundation.

"I can't see not doing nothing," he said, regarding his work with the different charities. "As athletes, we should be involved."

The Red Wings' motto for the 2003-2004 hockey season is "Holding Nothing Back."

Holding nothing back is more than a slogan for Darren McCarty.

It's the way he plays the game and also the way he gives back to the city of Detroit.