Downey grew up in Honeywood, Ontario playing his minor hockey for the Honeywood Minor Hockey Association. In 1990-91, Downey suited up for the Grand Valley Harvesters Jr. C. team. He also competed at the OFSSAA boys wrestling championships while in high school. In 1991-92, Downey moved up to the Collingwood Blues of the Ontario Provincial Jr.A. league. In 1992-93, Downey walked on with the
Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League as a free agent. He was cut at the start of the 1993-94 season and waived through the OHL. He ended up playing two seasons with the Tier II Jr.A. Halifax Lions before signing as a free agent with the
ECHL Hampton Roads Admirals. Downey is mostly known for his role as an
enforcer, though he instantly shot into notoriety after knocking the
Carolina Hurricanes'
Jesse Boulerice down with one punch on February 11, 2003; the incident left Boulerice with a mild
concussion and a broken jaw. After the fight, Stars color commentator
Daryl Reaugh coined the short-lived nickname "Aaron 'One punch and he's' Downey." On the flip side, Downey became a
YouTube sensation after his April 16, 2006, non-fight with
Ottawa Senator Brad Norton. The two squared off with fists raised for forty seconds before being escorted to the
penalty box without having made contact or even thrown a punch. Downey was invited to the 2007 Red Wings training camp on a tryout basis. He was offered a
two-way contract at the end of camp and chose to sign. Downey began the
2007–08 NHL season as a member of the Red Wings, his fourth
Original Six team. He was called up to the
Detroit Red Wings lineup in mid October and had his first major league tilt as a Red Wing in a game against the San Jose Sharks, with
Kyle McLaren, after McLaren took a run at
Henrik Zetterberg and
Dallas Drake. Less than a week later the Wings played the Sharks again and Downey had a heavyweight battle against then San Jose tough guy
Rob Davison. Downey added an element of toughness to the Red Wings with his willingness to fight. Prior to him joining the Red Wings, the Red Wings had been last in the NHL in fighting majors. The team had six for the 2005–06 NHL season, and 10 during the 2006–07 NHL season. Through February 2008, Downey accounted for nine of the team's 19 fights. He was often praised by head coach
Mike Babcock for his willingness to stick up for teammates and his positive attitude in the dressing room. Perhaps his most memorable bout was against Colorado Avalanche player
Ian Laperrière, who had hit and injured Red Wings superstar defenceman
Nicklas Lidstrom earlier in the game. The two fought late in the first period and came together again early in the third. In 2007–08 season he won the
Stanley Cup with the
Detroit Red Wings. Although he did not appear in a playoff game, he did play the required 41 regular-season games to get his name engraved on the cup. Downey spent the majority of the 2008-2009 season playing for Detroit's minor league affiliate, the
Grand Rapids Griffins. Downey played 65 games for the Griffins during the 2008-2009 season, scoring 2 goals, getting 7 assists and racking up 126 penalty minutes, with 9 fights. Downey also played four games for the Red Wings in 2008-2009, in those games he had 1 goal, 1 assist, an even plus/minus, 7 penalty minutes, and one fight and led the team in shooting percentage with an even 50.0%. Downey's one fight with the Red Wings during this season was against the
St. Louis Blues Cam Janssen; it lasted well over a minute and was regarded by many hockey fans as one of the best fights all season. Downey played for the Griffins during the playoffs, getting 1 assist, 44 penalty minutes and 1 fight in 10 games, before the Griffins were eliminated by the
Manitoba Moose. On September 20, 2009, Downey was released from his professional tryout contract with the Coyotes. ==Post-playing career==