Malarchuk Ends Retirement

Malarchuk Ends Retirement
By Jason Sheehan, IHL Correspondent

Life at the ranch apparently isn't something former NHL goaltender Clint Malarchuk has in his immediate plans.
Following Las Vegas Thunder goalie Parris Duffus' promotion to the Phoenix Coyotes a couple weeks ago, Malarchuk was asked to lace up the skates and take his pads out of the closet one last time.
Without hesitation, the 35-year-old goalie bid farewell to his horses in exchange for the rapid and brutal pace of the IHL.
Malarchuk, who has served as the Thunder's Assistant GM and analyst on radio broadcasts, rushed out of retirement in mid-February without giving it much thought. Team management (mainly Coach Chris McSorley and GM Bob Strumm) asked him if he could play in an emergency situation. Malarchuk, without hesitating, agreed. But at the time it looked like he'd only be with the club for three games.
"I'm always willing," said Malarchuk, who is the only player to have his number retired in the team's four-year history. "I've got the spirit of fun in me, so what the hell."
When Duffus left and backup Igor Galkin was sent back to Flint of the Colonial Hockey League, Malarchuk had a feeling his days spent worrying about getting a perfect tan were over.
"Yeah, I knew [a return had been] talked about," Malarchuk said. "It had been talked about for about a week; that if we couldn't get a competent backup for Parris (Duffus), I might have to come in and play for awhile until we could find one. And then it came that we lost both the backup and Parris so consequently I came into an emergency situation."
With the Thunder in drastic need of a backup goaltender, Malarchuk's initial three-game contract has risen to 25-games. With Coyotes backup goalie Darcy Wakaluk on the shelf for an extended period of time, Duffus has been asked to stay an extra month. So instead of trying to sign another goaltender, which is next to impossible with the playoffs nearing, the Thunder is relying on Malarchuk to keep the team afloat, just in case starter Andre Racicot is bitten by the injury bug.
"At first it was three [games]," Malarchuk chuckled. "So, I'm moving up and making progress."
He may have been laughing up a storm when reminiscing about his new contract. Malarchuk, however, must have felt a little wet behind the ears when he made his return in a relief appearance Feb. 21 against Michigan. He came in for a struggling Racicot 4:37 into the second period but exited approximately four minutes later, allowing one goal on four shots.
His short and only appearance this season surely wasn't a walk in the park. Yet, he realizes it will take time and hard work to get back into game shape.
"I did alright," Malarchuk said. "[The goal I allowed] was a rebound goal, so what do you do?
"I'm out of shape. But I can get by."
It's been over a year since Malarchuk last occupied the Thunder's net. And that was on the night when his name was risen to the rafters. To commemorate his retirement and fill up the building on a week night, he decided to play briefly that night, and stopped all three shots.
Now, fresh out of retirement for a second time, Malarchuk feels like he's still in training camp, although the regular season ends next month. As a result of being out of action for an extended period of time, he is experiencing difficulties readjusting to the speed of the game.
"Those pucks aren't any softer than when I left the game before," he said.
He may feel like a cube of ice dissolving rapidly as the hot-desert sun melts the earth. Everyone skating circles around him in practice is in mid-season shape, while Malarchuk is trying to resiliently keep up. But through thick and thin, Malarchuk isn't the type of player that is about to quit. He's made of tough stock and will throw his body around like an angry Las Vegas cabby if given the chance. In tight situations, he is the type of player that helps a team win championships.
The Thunder, obviously, aren't asking Malarchuk to single-handedly bring a Turner Cup to Las Vegas. They are thrilled to have his leadership on the bench, instead of in the press box announcing games.
At this stage in his career, Malarchuk is relying on adrenaline to get him through the remainder of the season. When commenting about his sub-par performance last month, he talked about the intense speed that flashed before his eyes in the form of the opposition.
"I didn't even have time to say ['oh my god']," he said. "It was just too quick."
He's also learned that the fast-paced wars of the IHL cannot be compared to life at his Canuck Ranch.
"There, I can go at my own speed," Malarchuk said, thinking about the good old days of fun and relaxation. "Here, the play dictates speed."
Does "The Cowboy" have any plans of returning to action next season?
"No," Malarchuk boldly stated. "Not right now. I've got one day at a time here with practice. I'm just trying to survive."