McCarty admits to substance abuse problem

DETRIOT (AP) -- Red Wings right wing Darren McCarty issued a statement Friday apologizing for missing the McCarty Cancer Foundation golf outing earlier this week, as well as other commitments during the past three weeks.

"For the past seven years, I have actively fought a substance abuse issue," McCarty said in the statement. "While most people do not recognize that this personal challenge exits on a day-to-day basis, it is an ongoing concern I will carry for the rest of my entire life.

"This offseason, it became apparent to me that my efforts required additional attention," he said. "I wanted to address the issue before the upcoming season and voluntarily began a maintenance program three weeks ago."

McCarty, 31, has spent his entire 10-season career in Detroit. In July, he agreed to a four-year deal with the Red Wings and that kept him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

He notched 13 goals and had nine assists in 73 games last season.

McCarty, who is married with three children, has helped the Red Wings win three Stanley Cups and also runs the McCarty Cancer Foundation created to fund Multiple Myeloma research. The disease took the life of his father, Craig.