The coach of the last North Bay Jr. Trappers team to win a championship has passed away.
Tom McCarthy, who guided the Jr Trappers to an NOJHL crown in 2013, passed away Wednesday night.
The 61-year-old had retired and was living in Mexico with his partner Tina Marchand.
"The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is mourning the loss of former coach of the year award recipient Tom McCarthy, who passed away suddenly following complications due to a medical issue," the NOJHL stated in a release Thursday morning.
Back in 2011-12, McCarthy was named the NOJHL’s top coach after guiding the North Bay Trappers to a league-best seven-win improvement from the season previously.
A year later, he led the Trappers to a first-place finish in the NOJHL standings with an impressive 34-7-3-4 mark before going on to see his club win the league championship and a berth in the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.
His efforts in the NOJHL also earned him a selection to serve as head coach of CJHL East at the 2013 Canadian Junior Hockey League's Prospects Games in Nova Scotia.
"The NOJHL offers its deepest condolences to Tom's family and friends during this difficult time," the release continued.
During his time coaching junior hockey McCarthy was also applauded for his ability to connect with players and used the term, "teaching life lessons through hockey."
One of those players was Duane Wainman.
"I came to you for advice about anything and everything, and you never judged me for it, you truly loved unconditionally, said Wainman who went from healthy scratch to scoring the championship winning goal in game 7 against the Soo.
"The best part of it all, is that when I look around, you made the same impact on hundreds of other people just like me, and for that, the world thanks you."
Former Jr Trappers defenceman Kyle Arenson is another.
"I’ll never forget all the life lessons and messages Tommy shared with us, coaching his players not to just be great players on the ice, but how to be the best version of yourself off the ice," said Arenson.
"So grateful to have called Tommy Mac a mentor, coach and friend!"
See related: Former NHLer McCarthy named Jr. Trappers head coach
As a player, McCarthy was the number one overall pick in the 1977 OMJHL Midget Draft making him one of two players drafted ahead of Wayne Gretzky. He had 69 goals for the Oshawa Generals in the 1978-79 season.
In the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, he was chosen in the first round (tenth overall) by the Minnesota North Stars.
He was selected to play in the 1983 NHL All-Star Game and finished the season with 39 goals. McCarthy went on to play seven seasons for the North Stars and two for the Boston Bruins, finishing his career with 178 goals and 399 points. He had 12 goals and 38 points in the playoffs.
