McCarty will be a regular contributor to the station and co-host a variety of shows throughout the week.

“I’m thrilled to have former Red Wing Darren McCarty join us at 97.1 The Ticket," said program director Jimmy Powers in a release. "Since his playing days, Darren has remained a resident of the city and is extremely passionate about all of the local teams. McCarty has always been a favorite with the fans, so I’m pleased to have him as a regular contributor."

McCarty has been a hockey analyst for the Versus cable network. He had a long career with the Red Wings, playing with the team in 1993-2004 and again in 2007-09. McCarty, Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper were known as the "Grind Line" for their gritty style of play.

McCarty was a member of the Red Wings Stanley Cup teams in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. He also played two seasons with the Calgary Flames. He retired from the NHL in 2009.

A fan favorite, McCarty was known as an enforcer and for his clutch scoring and passing. His feud with the Colorado Avalanche’s Claude Lemieux culminated in a memorable series of fights during a game at Joe Louis Arena in 1997 and helped elevate the Red Wings-Avalanche rivalry.

McCarty works with several organizations outside of hockey and has a band, The Grinders, which has developed a strong local following.

In 2003, McCarty was awarded the NHL Foundation Award as a part of his work with the McCarty Cancer Foundation, an organization he started in 1997 to honor his father, Craig, who died in 1999.