Sports
Daniel Cleary
born 1978 · ice hockey forward, front-office executive
Newfoundland-born forward who made the Red Wings out of a tryout in 2005, won the 2008 Stanley Cup as the first Newfoundlander ever to do so, and now directs the team's player development.
- Born
Carbonear, Newfoundland
age 47- Birth name
- Daniel Michael Cleary
- Also known as
- Danny Cleary
- Detroit years
- 2005–2016
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Cleary earned a training-camp invitation to Detroit in 2005 and made the roster, beginning an eleven-season run with the Red Wings after several unsettled seasons elsewhere in the league. In 2008 he signed a five-year extension and helped Detroit beat Pittsburgh for the Stanley Cup, becoming the first player from Newfoundland and Labrador to have his name engraved on the trophy; a celebratory song about him bringing the Cup home got airplay across the province. The following spring, in Game 7 of the 2009 Western Conference semifinal against Anaheim, he scored the tie-breaking goal with three minutes left to send Detroit back to the Conference finals. He remained with the organization after retiring, mentoring young players with the Red Wings' AHL affiliate before becoming Detroit's Director of Player Development.
Highlights
- Made the Red Wings out of training camp in 2005; stayed eleven seasons
- Won the 2008 Stanley Cup, the first Newfoundlander to do so
- Scored the series-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2009 Western Conference semifinal
- Now the Red Wings' Director of Player Development
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2005–2016
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
His home ice for his entire Red Wings career, including the 2008 championship; demolished in 2019.