Daniel Carcillo is considered a pest, a dirty player and is one of the least popular agitators in the NHL. To the late Steve Montador, however, Carcillo was simply a friend.
Montador was found dead in his Mississauga, Ont., home in February at the age of 35. Carcillo has been struggling with the passing of his friend ever since.
In an emotional post for The Players’ Tribune, the Chicago Blackhawks forward opened up about the death of his friend, their bond and how addiction impacted both their lives.
Remembering Montador: A great teammate and friend
“Steve was a 12-year NHL vet who battled addiction at certain points in his career before getting sober. Since he walked away from the game due to concussions in 2013, he was struggling to figure out what to do next,” Carcillo wrote. “But I was still in complete shock and disbelief. For some reason, I started getting dressed for [a] pre-game skate. As a hockey player, you’re just taught to push through the pain, no matter what. I started putting on my skates when I glanced across the room and saw the stall Monty used to sit in when we played together. I heard his deep, hearty laugh.
“I broke down.”
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Carcillo and Montador were teammates with the Blackhawks during the 2011-12 campaign where they became close friends.
“I had so many thoughts and questions that needed answers,” Carcillo explained. “What had happened? Who was with him? Where was he? Is this real? This can’t be real. Why didn’t he reach out if something was wrong? My mind was racing. Over the days to come, I experienced emotions that I’d never felt before. I never realized my heart and soul could ache as it did from that kind of loss.”
Here is Carcillo talking about what he hopes the future holds for NHL players that face similar obstacles as the ones Montador did.
