Former hockey player Daniel Carcillo is in a fight to save his brain: “You can take my name off the Stanley Cup twice over. I can’t live like that anymore.” NHL player Daniel Carcillo would have left hockey if he knew of the damage he was doing to his brain.
Two former NHL players committed suicide on the same day, shining a spotlight on the links between hockey and brain injuries.
The untimely deaths of Chris Simon, 52, and Konstantin Koltsov, 42, were confirmed on the same day in March. They are the latest in a long line of hockey player deaths linked to CTE, and their suicides have sparked renewed discussion over the dangers of brain damage when playing hockey. In the wake of the tragic recent incidents, concerned experts have accused the NHL of having a “culture of denial.”
Recent Suicides of Former Hockey Players
Former NHL player Chris Simon is confirmed to have taken his own life in March 2024. The Canadian forward, who played more than 850 games in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996, was found dead at the age of 52.
Known as an enforcer who played with an edge, Simon had more than 1800 penalty minutes in the NHL. He fought 111 times and was suspended for a total of 65 games for various violent incidents.
When Simon filed for bankruptcy in 2017, a doctor testified that the former player had symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a deadly type of brain injury that has been linked to physical trauma while playing hockey.
Following the suicide, Chris Simon’s family attributed the tragic death to his ongoing struggles with CTE. A statement released by his agent said: “The family strongly believes, and has witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely with CTE, which unfortunately resulted in his death.”
Simon’s death came on the very same day as that of another former NHLer, Konstantin Koltsov. The Belarusian played nearly 150 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2002-2006, as well as putting together a lengthy pro career across Europe.
Koltsov jumped from a hotel balcony in Florida on March 18, 2024, in what authorities say was an apparent suicide. He was just 42. The shocking incident occurred at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort.
The Miami-Dade Police Department launched an investigation into the death, but no foul play is suspected. There is not yet any indication that Koltsov suffered from CTE. However, the hockey and scientific communities are on high alert after these latest instances of NHL alumni suicides.
What is CTE?
CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and it is a form of permanent and progressive brain disease. It most commonly affects people who have suffered concussions and repeated hits to the head.
The science of CTE and our understanding of the disease are still evolving. It is believed that trauma to the brain may cause a buildup of bad proteins that disrupt normal brain functions. However, brain trauma is not a guarantee that CTE will develop.
Symptoms of CTE
CTE is associated with similar symptoms to dementia. The most common symptoms of CTE include:
- Compromised impulse control
- Erratic and uncharacteristic behavior
- Depression
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Poor or impaired judgment
- Memory loss
- Aggression
- Equilibrium issues, including dizziness and loss of balance
- Trouble sleeping
- Suicidal tendencies
These changes do not necessarily kick in immediately after the head trauma occurs. It can take time for chronic traumatic encephalopathy to take hold. CTE symptoms may appear weeks, months, or even years after the last hit to the head.
Suspected CTE can be diagnosed while a person is alive. However, only examination of the brain tissue following a person’s passing can conclusively prove its existence. Medical experts are developing new systems by which to confirm the presence of CTE in living brain injury victims. But at this time, there is no recognized treatment or cure.
Links Between Hockey and CTE
Fast-paced, high-impact sports like hockey and football have long been linked with CTE. Both of these sports involve repeated high-speed collisions and put an emphasis on body contact. They also both have high rates of reported concussions.
One study conducted by Boston University in 2022 involved the in-depth analysis of 74 brains, all of which had belonged to hockey players who agreed to donate their brains to science when they died. The participants were aged between 13-91 and had all played competitive hockey at various levels.
Of those players studied, more than 50% had CTE. The study concluded that every year of competitive hockey increased the chances of developing CTE by 23%.
All hockey players suffer repeated hits throughout the course of a game that can jolt the brain and create the risk of head injuries. However, many of the most serious cases of CTE associated with hockey players involve enforcers.
These are the bigger, tougher players who are traditionally expected to stand up for their teammates and fight other players when deemed necessary.
Examples of Hockey Players Dealing With CTE
Some of the highest-profile incidents involving hockey players who were diagnosed with CTE after their deaths include:
Steve Montador: NHL veteran Steve Montador was found dead at home in February 2015. He was only 35. Montador fought 69 times during NHL games. He was open about suffering from depression following serious concussion issues and was confirmed to have CTE after his death.
Derek Boogard: Standing at 6 ft 7, Derek Boogaard was one of the most feared NHL enforcers during a career spent with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers. He had more than 180 career fights. Boogaard died of an accidental overdose at age 28 and was found to have advanced CTE.
Wade Belak: Popular enforcer Wade Belak was found dead in Toronto in 2011, aged 35. There was some dispute whether his death was accidental or a result of suicide. But Belak was open about suffering from depression and was diagnosed with CTE after his death.
Todd Ewen: Ewen played professional hockey for more than 10 years, racking up nearly 2,000 penalty minutes in the NHL. In 2015, he committed suicide at the age of 49 after dealing with depression for several years. Post-mortem researchers found evidence of stage 2 CTE.
Rick Rypien: After working his way into the NHL despite going undrafted, Rypien played several seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. However, he dealt with clinical depression for more than a decade and was found dead in 2011 aged just 27. His death was ruled a suicide, and he was posthumously diagnosed with CTE.
These are far from the only instances. Marek Svatos, Bob Probert, Zarley Zalapski, Dan Maloney, Stan Mikita, Henri Richard, and Ralph Backstrom were all diagnosed with CTE after their deaths, among others.
Brain Injury Lawsuits Against the NHL and NFL
There have been several brain injury-related lawsuits filed against the NHL since the discovery of CTE, but the league has fought against each instance of legal action.
One class action lawsuit saw more than 300 former players join forces to file legal action against the NFL. The lawsuit alleged that the league had been negligent in failing to warn players about the consequences of concussions and head trauma.
Players also accused the NHL of encouraging and promoting the more violent side of the game, creating a greater danger of long-term trauma, as well as failing to care for players who sustained significant head injuries.
This class action lawsuit was eventually settled out of court after five years. It was settled for $18.9 million, which was divided between the players involved after fees. The NHL also agreed to pay up to $75,000 in medical expenses for every eligible player after assessment.
It was later confirmed that the NHL paid $70.6 million in legal fees for this case—much more than was eventually paid out to the victims.
There have also been a number of individual lawsuits filed against the NHL, including those by the families of Todd Ewen, Steve Montador, and Derek Boogaard. The Ewen case was significant. The first expert to posthumously examine his brain claimed that he did not have CTE.
However, second and third opinions from a leading expert and the Mayo Clinic confirmed that Ewen did have CTE. However, the NHL continued to use the original diagnosis to discredit any links between hockey and brain damage.
Comparable NFL CTE Lawsuit
The result of the class action lawsuit against the NHL was seen as a victory for the league. They may have paid out millions of dollars, but the NHL admitted no fault. It also pales in comparison to the NFL’s CTE lawsuit.
In 2012, more than 4,500 retired football players filed a similar class action against the NFL. They alleged that the league knew about the dangers of concussions but hid that information to protect their product.
The NFL settled the lawsuit for more than $1 billion.
The NHL Continues to Deny CTE Links
Despite evidence to the contrary, the NHL continues to deny the links between playing hockey and the development of CTE.
When questioned by government panels, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly claimed that there is no conclusive evidence between concussions suffered while playing hockey and the development of CTE. He maintains that any links are anecdotal.
Medical professionals who specialize in brain injury research have criticized these comments. Many specialists say there is a definitive link.
The recent deaths of Chris Simon and Konstantin Koltsov have put the spotlight back on the NHL, and experts are again accusing the league of having a dangerous “culture of denial” that is putting players at risk.
Neuroscientist Dr Chris Nowinski, who founded the Concussion Legacy Foundation, told the Daily Mail: “It’s sad to watch how their denial slows the conversation on helping these former players and preventing CTE in current players. The opportunity’s right in front of us, and yet, people continue to die. Additionally, they don’t receive respect or acknowledgment for the suffering they endured as a result of the game they played.
“It is embarrassing that the NHL won’t accept this very clear fact.”
Although there is no doubt about the connections and a significant number of hockey players have CTE, it is still possible that their participation in the sport did not directly cause these brain injuries.
In 2023, Gary Bettman – who started his career as a lawyer – told NPR: “We listen to the medical opinions on CTE, and I don’t believe any documented study suggests that elements of our game result in CTE. There have been isolated cases of players who have played the [who] have had CTE. But it doesn’t mean that it necessarily came from playing in the NHL.”
What is the NHL Doing to Reduce Injuries?
Despite the NHL’s denials, the league has been making moves in recent years to reduce hits to the head. The league has outlawed body checks involving contact with the head. It has started handing down lengthy suspensions, mainly when hits involve the head as the principal point of contact.
It has also made changes to fighting in the NHL. Players are now not allowed to remove their helmets for a fight, while mandatory visors have been grandfathered in. Linesmen are also quicker to step in to break up a fight when it starts to fizzle out.
The number of fights in the NHL has dropped significantly in recent years, but there are still hundreds of fights per season. A ban is not expected any time soon. Players who fight in the NHL get an automatic 5-minute in-game penalty, and that rule is likely to remain.
Some of the actions the NHL has taken
- Concussion Protocols: The NHL has established concussion protocols to ensure that players receive proper evaluation and treatment when suspected of suffering a concussion during games.
- Player Education: The league has increased efforts to educate players about the risks of head injuries and the importance of reporting symptoms promptly.
While these measures represent progress, ongoing efforts are necessary to enhance player safety further and reduce the risk of brain injuries in hockey.
When Legal Help is Needed
Of course, brain injuries are not restricted to hockey and football players. Anyone can suffer a significant injury through a blow to the head.
If you or a loved one has suffered any form of brain damage, you need an experienced brain injury attorney on your side to fight for your rights, especially if you believe the injury was a result of negligence.
Sports head injury cases can be challenging, but our team has the skill and knowledge to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
At Bisnar Chase, we have decades of experience dealing with catastrophic injuries. We work with industry-leading experts to ensure our clients get the care and compensation they deserve, recovering damages for medical expenses, lost wages, compromised quality of life, wrongful death, and much more. We have a 99% success rate and have recovered more than $850 million. Contact us today for a free consultation.
