Darcy Loewen is the nicest guy named “The Chainsaw” you’ll ever meet.
He’s a laid-back, easygoing sort, which is impressive at this moment because he’s just directed a group of North Las Vegas Fire Department trainees through an intense drill — one with smoke and real chainsaws — about entering a burning house through its roof.
Loewen makes it all look as easy as scoring on an empty net from point-blank range, and the analogy isn’t accidental: Before becoming a firefighter and recruit training officer, Loewen played pro hockey for 16 seasons, including five in the National Hockey League and four with the long-gone but fondly remembered Las Vegas Thunder.