Wade Belak found dead

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

http://www.lfpress.com/sports/hockey/2011/08/31/18625271.html

Former Toronto Maple Leafs tough guy Wade Belak was found dead in a Toronto hotel Wednesday.

The 35-year-old from Saskatoon was found in the tony 1 King West hotel and condo residence.

Belak retired in March after a long NHL career that included stops in Colorado, Calgary, Toronto, Florida and Nashville. He was recently announced as one of the ex-NHLers who would be performing on CBC's Battle of the Blades this year.

Belak is the third NHL enforcer to die in the last four months.

Derek Boogard of the New York Rangers was found dead May 13 in Minneapolis.

The 28-year-old's death was ruled to be due to an accidental overdose of presciption drugs.

Just over two weeks ago, Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien committed suicide in his home in Crowsnest Pass, Alta. It came to light the 27-year-old had battled depression for more than a decade.

[cemetery 14]

What the hell is going on...

[gerbe3:16 19]

Jesus Christ, I just commented on the Savard story today about how devastating these brain injuries are to guys down the road and how it is very dangerous as evidenced by the recent deaths and now this...

Something needs to be done about this immediately.

[Jason Harris 31]

This is assuming that Belak's death has anything to do with head trauma, but Kerry Goulet and Keith Primeau are trying to fight the problem via StopConcussions.com, although it won't be immediate and it will never be completely eradicated. The best we can do is become more knowledgeable, so we stop telling athletes, "You just got your bell rung. Wait about five minute, then get back out there!" Or even wait two days, then go out there, because it some instances it might be wait five months -- every injury is different.

[ibeck 38]

This is assuming that Belak's death has anything to do with head trauma, but Kerry Goulet and Keith Primeau are trying to fight the problem via StopConcussions.com, although it won't be immediate and it will never be completely eradicated. The best we can do is become more knowledgeable, so we stop telling athletes, "You just got your bell rung. Wait about five minute, then get back out there!" Or even wait two days, then go out there, because it some instances it might be wait five months -- every injury is different.

The article above says the death was due to drug overdose, not head trauma.

Gerbge 3:16 your comment didnt go through in the Savard discussion

[Jason Harris 31]

The overdose of prescription drugs in the article is referring to Derek Boogard's death, but many of the athletes who have suffered repeat head traumas develop psychological issues, most notably depression. Sadly, if the depression is severe enough, it's not uncommon for it to lead to suicides or drug use.

[ibeck 38]

The overdose of prescription drugs in the article is referring to Derek Boogard's death, but many of the athletes who have suffered repeat head traumas develop psychological issues, most notably depression. Sadly, if the depression is severe enough, it's not uncommon for it to lead to suicides or drug use.

ahhh i understand now, woops

[mfd1068 0]

Very sad indeed. I really enjoyed his time with the Leafs!

[EBondo 233]

Wow. Just earlier I was reading a story CSN Philly's Tim Panaccio did on Todd Fedoruk and his battle back to the NHL. He had this comment which really stuck me.

Ferdoruk believes most NHL enforcers have issues off the ice. Mental things that drag them down.

He says most enforcers are never really secure in their role or with their team and are always wondering whether they “fit.” That’s their common bond, he said.

Then I come home from work and see this...something needs to be done about this, and not soon, but now. It's already too late, as we've lost not one, but THREE enforcers in the last handful of weeks, but now is the time to make sure it doesn't happen again in the future.

[Fury of One 6]

It's crazy. He was covering the playoffs on the NHL network just a few months ago.

[steelnation248 101]

Jesus, what a rough summer. It's a shame that all of these guys went so young.

[team50 20]

I loved when he played for the TML. Any utility player on my beer league team is thought to be a Wade Belak type player. I have a friend that became friends with him and he always told me that Wade was a great guy. My brother met him in Nashville and said the same thing. I follow him on Twitter and just the other day he tweeted about how hard the first practice was for Battle of the Blades. He seemed excited to be on the show.

I'll miss his sense of humour.

[goosedennis 0]

He allegedly hanged himself.

[wrangler 157]

This is assuming that Belak's death has anything to do with head trauma, but Kerry Goulet and Keith Primeau are trying to fight the problem via StopConcussions.com, although it won't be immediate and it will never be completely eradicated. The best we can do is become more knowledgeable, so we stop telling athletes, "You just got your bell rung. Wait about five minute, then get back out there!" Or even wait two days, then go out there, because it some instances it might be wait five months -- every injury is different.

Peter Mueller comes to mind.

[CaptainFantastik 0]

Yet another gone too soon. Something must change.

RIP Wade Belak.

[bigdmac 12]

We will not be sure on his death until the autopsy. Whether he took his own life, OD'd on drugs, or had a random heart attack, we won't be sure until we get the offical report on his death. There's no need to speculate on his death when we really have no idea of the truth.

[HolyRollie 0]

Wow. This is terrible.

[Chadd 916]

This isn't going to be a popular position, but the NHL needs to ban fighting. There is no doubt that fighters are obviously having mental issues. The only question is if it is the job that is creating the problems or if only troubled people are willing/able to do that job. Until fighting can be ruled out as a contributing cause of these problems, the NHL should abolish fighting. It will take a concerted effort to hand out meaningful suspensions to curb unwanted stick work and cheap shots in the absence of fighters, and that is something the NHL has not shown in the past.

[ktang 34]

CBC is reporting that it has several sources confirming that Belak's death was a suicide. RIP.

Ex-NHLer Belak committed suicide: sources

[Hooah4 12]

I have to admit I'm agreeing with Chadd on this one. Either the "game" the enforcers play is contributing to this or the players willing to engage in this are more troubled that we've thought. Unfortunately I believe the league will do a cursory "investigation" as procedure and not really follow through (as usual).

[Fury of One 6]

Related story, Oscar De La Hoya admits his issues: http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-iole_delahoya_rehab_confessions_083111

May not need to ban fighting, as there are skilled players that can trade punches, but the "enforcer" role really needs to get looked at. With the instigator rule in place, the skill guys don't need a police man to protect them nowadays.

[Apes44 7]

Its a shame how many we lost this summer. Makes me wonder how many who didnt get to the show that have similar issues and sad results from the head injuries. Something really needs to be done.

R.I.P Wade

[Empieee 0]

R.i.p. Wade,

this feels like the worst offseason ever..

[maxamillion 3]

we only know that head injuries played a part in boogaard's death. don't leverage these deaths into an agenda. Rypien, as far as we know, was terribly depressed, and Belak may have been as well. people can put on a face. Terry Bradshaw suffers from clinical depression, but you'd never know it by watching him every sunday.

[wrangler 157]

This isn't going to be a popular position, but the NHL needs to ban fighting. There is no doubt that fighters are obviously having mental issues. The only question is if it is the job that is creating the problems or if only troubled people are willing/able to do that job. Until fighting can be ruled out as a contributing cause of these problems, the NHL should abolish fighting. It will take a concerted effort to hand out meaningful suspensions to curb unwanted stick work and cheap shots in the absence of fighters, and that is something the NHL has not shown in the past.

I've got no use for fighting in hockey, but that seems to be quite a leap, of the "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" variety. So far all I've seen is anecdotal correlation -- no numbers. What percentage of this type of player has developed problems?