from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

...Sinden sent a pair of draft picks to the North Stars to acquire Tommy McCarthy, then age 25. Strong and energetic, McCarthy already had seven years of NHL experience (including a 39-goal season) with the North Stars. He lasted in Boston for little more than a season, connecting for 30 goals his first season on Causeway Street.

On Wednesday, McCarthy died of a heart-related aneurysm while in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He was 61.

Fun-loving, a bit goofy, it was virtually impossible to dislike McCarthy, as it is a tail-wagging Great Dane that turns a family room into a Hazmat site. He was full of smiles, good words, energy, moves, and talent. The spark in his personality stood out, even in the day when NHL dressing rooms were chock full of characters not afraid to go off team script, willing to repeat something other than clichés and team-screened party lines.

Post-Boston, there were some very difficult years for McCarthy, beginning not long after his NHL days came to an end after only seven games with the Black and Gold in 1987-88.

“It really started when I stopped dreaming,” he told CBC reporter Scott Morrison years later, reflecting on some of the poor choices he made.

At his lowest, McCarthy recalled, his mind-set became, “I had my chance, my life is over . . . ”

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