Former Blackhawks and Hurricanes goalie Scott Darling starts a new career as a stand up comedian

Former Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes netminder Scott Darling is doing his best to put his pro hockey days behind him and is literally laughing things off in his new job as a stand up comedian.

The Stanley Cup champion talked openly about his struggles with depression when he first retired from hockey at just 33 years old. "I got depressed when I retired," the 33-year-old former goalie told SiriusXM NHL Network Radio on Thursday. "I was depressed for six months; I didn't know what to do with my life. You live this regimented life for so long and then it's gone and you're like, 'What do I do, what do I do?' I had to figure out something to get me out of bed in the morning."

The lifelong Blackhawks fan was thrust into the spotlight with his hometown Blackhawks during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs when starting netminder Corey Crawford went down with injury. Darling became somewhat of a folk hero for helping the Blackhawks get passed the Nashville Predators before Crawford eventually returned to action and led the team to another Stanley Cup championship. 

And it was in his hometown of Chicago where Darling got his start on the stage, as well. 

"I never thought I'd actually do it but I was at the Laugh Factory in Chicago and this guy by the name of Ray Wisbrock went on and he was hilarious," Darling said. "My humor is very dark and true stories about my life and this guy had the same type of humor, an older guy and he recognized me in the lobby from playing for the Blackhawks. We became great friends and he said, 'Just open for me one time, and if you don't like it, I'll never ask you to do it again.' So I did it but I was so bad, but I loved it and loved the thrill of it."

The adrenaline of being on stage and being the focus of attention was what Darling had been lacking in his life since retiring from hockey and he claims he needed that adrenaline in his life to overcome his depression.

"It honestly reminded me of the feeling of being in an NHL game, like that rush, you know?" he said. "I'm as crazy now about doing comedy as I was about playing hockey."

Darling lists veteran comics like Tom Segura (Hi, Mommies), Brent Kreischer and Andrew Santino as his top influences.