Professional Hockey is a hard life for most of the players, even though it may not seem like it when you hear about million dollar contracts. It’s hard to imagine someone being depressed with that kind of money, but depression is not about money, it’s about feeling. And in some cases, instead of easing the pain, the money fuels the addiction that ultimately leads to the destruction of the person.
I bring this up because Wade Belak, who was 35 and recently retired from being an enforcer for the Predators and before that for the Toronto Maple Leafs, was found dead in Toronto and while no cause of death has been officially issued, the police report says that it was most likely suicide from hanging. He is the third hockey player in two months to die of either a drug overdose or taking his own life. And that has brought the sport’s ability to cope with mental deficiencies under fire.
You see, when you are a “warrior” as often players are known, there is no room for...