Wade Belak found dead

Another enforcer found dead. Wade Belak apparently killed himself in a Toronto hotel room.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/31/ex-leafs-enforcer-belak-found-dead

RIP Belak.

Another tragic loss for the hockey world.

RIP Wade. Thoughts go to his family, friends and team-mates

Sad news indeed, thoughts with the family

Once is co-incidence. Twice is concerning. Thrice? The NHL needs to get its act together and work out how to support these guys. Three family men in the prime of their lives, gone. Such a tragedy, and one can't help but think - do they get the support they need?

Azzy Luongo wrote:Once is co-incidence. Twice is concerning. Thrice? The NHL needs to get its act together and work out how to support these guys. Three family men in the prime of their lives, gone. Such a tragedy, and one can't help but think - do they get the support they need?

This is awful news. Boogaard, Rypien, and now Belak.

I'm sure I read something that said the NHL support program was only in operation in during the season, and there was nothing available in the off-season. If that's true (and I really hope it isn't) then it's something that needs looking into.

RIP Wade.

RIP belak

CJ now that he was retired I'm not sure he would have had access to player support anymore?

Yes I realised after I'd posted that he'd retired. But only having the program available to current players also seems very wrong to me.

I think the teams have to take a lot better care of their 'goons'.

These guys, we know are not the most gifted of players, but, they are integral to every team. Yet these guys are usually the lowest paid players on the roster. I may be wrong, but you don't see many multi -million, mutli-year contracts handed out for them. All supporters love their goon. The anticipation when he gets on the ice and then the adulation as he leaves ' having done his job'. Yet, at the end of their careers they are usually forgotten about.

How can people then be suprised that these guys end up in 23rd floor flats needing 'a little something' to give them the buzz they had in their playing days.

I wonder how many 'goons' have got their jerseys in the rafters and their numbers retired?

People only tend to remember when its too late.