SAN JOSE — John McCarthy, the Barrucuda captain who played for the U.S. at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, is announcing his retirement from professional hockey, effective immediately, due to health reasons.
On Dec. 10, McCarthy, 33, suffered an Ischemic stroke due to a previously undetected hole in his heart. Following medical attention from the team’s medical staff and physicians at Kaiser Permanente, McCarthy was stabilized and has made a complete recovery.
According to the Sharks, McCarthy will undergo a minor heart procedure in the coming weeks to correct the issue.
Beginning with Friday’s Barracuda game with the Stockton Heat, McCarthy will join co-coaches Jimmy Bonneau and Michael Chiasson as a member of the team’s coaching staff.