In another tragic turn for the hockey world, veteran enforcer Wade Belak took his own life yesterday. It was the second suicide in less than three weeks and third death of the offseason which also claimed enforcers Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaard.
The conversation after Rypien’s death was that players and personnel should take more care to open up about sensitive issues that most don’t like to talk about. Now, “should” has been replaced by “will,” as the NHL and NHLPA have both promised to investigate the factors that have led to those deaths, including players’ mental health during their careers and afterwards as they retire from the sport.
“While the circumstances of each case are unique, these tragic events cannot be ignored. We are committed to examining, in detail, the factors that may have contributed to these events, and to determining whether concrete steps can be taken to enhance player welfare and minimize the likelihood of such events taking place.”
Perhaps most important of all, the NHL may actually address the widespread abuse of painkillers among hockey players.
It shouldn’t come as a shock to even the most casual observers that substance abuse is an issue for hockey players. It’s an incredibly physical, and often violent, game in which absurdly quick returns to the action are lauded. Hockey fans laugh as baseball players take weeks off from “sore elbows” while their heroes come back to the bench following a period where they may have broken their ankle or cracked a rib.
It’s excruciating for the players, though, and especially for those whose only expectation is to play for two minutes a game and risk having their face caved in for others’ amusement. That’s exactly what happened to former Flyer Todd Fedoruk, who is currently training with the team while preparing for a tryout offer from the Vancouver Canucks. Tim Panaccio published an excellent story on CSNPhilly on the battles that Fedoruk, 32, has faced with substance abuse over the course of his career.
“I had a history of battling some things away from the game … battled some demons off the ice,” Fedoruk told Panaccio. “I had to re-prioritize my life. After that settled down, I got myself back on track.”
While there may not be an open roster position for Fedoruk on the 2011-12 Flyers, it’s pleasing to know that the organization continues to do its best to look after its players. I don’t know of any substance abuse program that the team employs for its active players (unless you count “dry island”), but they’ve never been shy about extending help to former players or finding jobs within the organization for those who are looking for direction upon retirement.
One of those former Flyers is Riley Cote, who was given a position as assistant coach on the Adirondack Phantoms upon his retirement last year. Cote, 29, had this to say about the issue on facebook: “Someone needs to step in and speak up about these very preventable deaths. This [is] absolutely crazy. These PILLS (painkillers) are mass produced, way over prescribed and are flooding the black market with pharmaceutically made, very highly addictive drugs. This is a growing epidemic all across North America. We need some action ASAP otherwise there will be plenty more of these sad stories.”
It’s a shame that it took a third death for people to take notice, but Wade Belak’s death may finally spur the NHL to legitimately address the darker side of the sport that we know and love.
