Hayley Wickenheiser has made a life of playing and promoting hockey, but she says her sport has a dark side.
In an op-ed written for The Players’ Tribune, the biggest name in women’s hockey spoke about the death of her friend, former NHLer Steve Montador, how mental health issues might have contributed to his passing in February, and argues the NHL, NHLPA and collective hockey community need to improve how they deal with mental health issues.
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: | Broadcast Schedule
Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE | Stanley Cup Playoffs Fantasy Hockey
New Sportsnet app: iTunes | Google Play
“Depression and anxiety are the worst kept secrets in professional sports,” Wickenheiser wrote. “In every locker room across the NHL, there are guys who are struggling with the fear of everything — the fear of a bad shift, the fear of pissing off their coach, the fear of getting traded or cut and letting down their family. What also happens in every locker room is that there are teammates, trainers and staff who stay silent too long when a guy struggles.
“In the week after Monty’s death, I had two current and two former players call me. They called for two reasons: they too are struggling, and they want to help other players in the game. For the guys who are retired, they are struggling with finding meaning after playing. For the guys currently playing, they are struggling finding meaning for what they are doing and scared it could be them next.”
The four-time Olympic gold medallist’s story was published one day after NHL winger Daniel Carcillo opened up about his friendship with Montador and how addiction impacted both their lives.
Wickenheiser suggested hockey teams should have a transition plan for players who leave the game – either by retiring or being released from their respective rosters – so they can set and achieve long-term, post-career goals and live a productive life after hockey.
From The Players’ Tribune:
“What if captains on each team came together to have a dialogue and create a plan for how to help out teammates who are struggling? And what if the NHL teams or NHLPA established a roster of business consultants, financial planners and psychologists — not just in Toronto, but in every single NHL city? It’s not unheard of. The Canadian Sport Institute in Calgary has a life services manager that helps current and former Canadian Olympians transition out of sports. If I want to go back to school, or need a job, or need to know how to manage my money, the life services manager is there for me.
“The irony is that Olympians are the athletes who probably understand what real life is like the most. We only live in “The Bubble” for about 11 months every four years. Then the day after the Olympics are over, we’re thrown back into the real world. I go home and do laundry and go to the grocery store. It’s a much-needed wake-up call and it forces you to develop life skills. NHLers never leave the bubble, until sometimes it’s too late…
“…We need to do more. The entire hockey community, including league officials, teammates, coaches, trainers, the NHLPA, and the hundreds of former players out there, need to come together and solidify a comprehensive support system for those struggling with depression, anxiety and the aimlessness that comes with finding a second life after hockey.
“It is a moral and ethical duty for all pro sports franchises to develop their athletes as people, to help them transition to life after, and to set them up for success along the way.”
