Feisty Calgary winger rounds out his game

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Sandy McCarthy is anxious to prove that he can punish national Hockey league opponents in more than one way.

McCarthy, a third-year right winger with the Calgary Flames, is already regarded as one of the league's top heavy-weight fighters. But in the early parts of this season he's also being given the opportunity to showcase his playing skills.

McCarthy, who is of Micmac heritage, can thank new Flames' coach Pierre Page for his expanded role.

"When I played for Dave King ? my first two NHL years ? he never gave me the chance to play," said McCarthy, following the Flame's 4-3 overtime road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 20. "When I played, it was just to fight and that's it. I never played on a regular shift on a regular line with him ever. But Pierre has let me play on a regular line on a regular basis."

Though he has had several different line mates this season, McCarthy, 23, has even spent some time on the Flames' premier unit, along with centre German Titov and winger Theoren Fleury, Calgary's captain.

During his first NHL season, McCarthy picked up 10 points in 79 contests. And during last year's lockout-shortened schedule, he earned eight points in 37 matches.

McCarthy, however, has proven during his career that he can also have a nice offensive touch. During his first pro season, in 1992-93, he chalked up 36 points, including 18 goals, with Salt Lake, Calgary's International Hockey League affiliate. Despite being tagged for 320 penalty minutes the year before that, McCarthy accumulated 90 points in 62 games with the Laval Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Due to renovations at their home rink, the Canadian Airlines Saddledome, the Flames were forced to play their first seven games of the current campaign on the road. Calgary failed to win any of these contests, posting an 0-4-3 mark.

But McCarthy, a 6-foot-3, 225 pounder, is confident that the Flames can improve their fortunes as the year progresses.

"We play good hockey," said McCarthy, who lives in Calgary year-round. "We've got a good hockey team but we've just been having a couple of mental lapses and things have turned around for us. I'm sure once we get our first win a couple more will follow."

Since he's in the NHL, McCarthy likes the thought of being a role model for Native people.

"I try to be," said McCarthy, who was selected in the third round, 52nd overall, by the Flames in the 1991 NHL entry draft. "If somebody has a question to say to me, I'll always listen. I'll always have time for the young First Nations kids."

McCarthy and Native Gino Odjick of the Vancouver Canucks completed their spiritual "Journey of Healing" this past off-season. The pair walked from Calgary to Vancouver, stopping at Native communities to discuss issues of drug and alcohol abuse.

"I think it went over really well," said McCarthy, who was born in Toronto and grew up in Barrie, Ont. "I think we got a good response from it."

Is another such trek being planned for 1996?

"We'll have to wait and see," McCarthy said. "It's something Gino and me have to talk about and see if we have time. It depends on how far we go in the playoffs."