Dan Carcillo was spending spring break with his family in the Bahamas last week when he learned of Chris Simon's death.
Carcillo, who has emerged as one of the NHL and NHLPA's most outspoken critics of its handling of concussions and head injuries in sports, released a four-minute video on social media to mourn Simon's death. I felt I had no choice but to do it.
“The ancient Egyptians used to say that if you say someone's name, that person is alive,” Carcillo said at the beginning of the video. He then started mentioning the names of several former NHL players who died young. That list included Simon, Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak, Jon Kordic, and Steve Montador.
Carcillo wrote in the video's caption: “This is a stark reminder that a contributing factor to this tragedy was playing in a league that continues to deny the link between repetitive head trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. If you If you are a current player, protect yourself because the NHL and its medical professionals will not protect you.”
Carcillo posted his personal email address in the message and urged former players to contact him if they need help.
When Simon passed away last week at the age of 52, his family released the following statement: “The family strongly believes, and witnessed firsthand, that Chris suffered greatly from CTE, which unfortunately led to his death.”
At a general managers' meeting in Florida last week, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about statements from the family linking Simon's death to CTE, short for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a progressive degenerative disease that affects some athletes who have suffered multiple concussions or traumatic brain injuries. injury.
“Chris's death is tragic. Sad. My heart goes out to his family and friends. We await the opinion of medical experts on all of these issues,” Bettman said. Ta. “That said, all the advances we've made over the past few decades to make gaming as safe as possible is well documented.”
Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravari also asked NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly last week whether the league has changed its mind about proving a conclusive link between CTE and repeated blows to the head. Asked.
“No,” Daly said. “I think the science is still lacking.”
During a long conversation with The AthleticCarcillo said he was disappointed but not surprised that NHL officials chose this position regarding Simon's death.
“This is the same strategy that Big Tobacco used while they couldn't find a definitive link between lung cancer and smoking. They used it until they couldn't anymore,” Carcillo said. Ta. “And I think the time has come. Bill and Gary are lawyers, so they're going to understand the legal terminology. They're happy in that position right now.”
Carcillo's comments were echoed almost word for word by Dr. Chris Nowinski, a former professional wrestler who has dedicated his life to concussion research and awareness. Now co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and a renowned neuroscientist, Nowinski also paid close attention to the NHL's response to Simon's death last week.
“The NHL is going the Big Tobacco route,” Nowinski said. The Athletic. “I don't think they'll change their mind. They'll keep saying it for as long as they can get away with it.”
The NHL did not respond to requests for comment this week.
A 2023 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that retired bailiffs (the players who fought the most on the ice) tended to die 10 years earlier than their teammates. The study used data on players from 1967 to 2022 and classified players as “enforcers” if they played 50 or more games in their career or averaged more than three minutes of penalty time per game. Enforcers died earlier and were more likely to die from drug overdose or suicide when compared to age-matched NHL player controls.
During his 15-year NHL career, Simon played in more than 100 games, racked up 1,824 penalty minutes, and established himself as one of the most feared players of his generation. Shortly after his retirement, Simon joined a class action lawsuit involving more than 300 former NHL players, alleging the league failed to warn players of the risks of head injuries or protect them.
The lawsuit was dismissed by a judge in July 2018 after five years of litigation, but in November of that year, the NHL announced that it would cover the plaintiffs' legal fees and award each player approximately $22,000. A settlement of $18.9 million was offered. in a suit. The settlement also provides the players with neuropsychological testing and up to $75,000 in treatment costs if deemed necessary. As part of the terms of that settlement, the NHL did not admit any liability in the contract. The players waived their right to sue the NHL (the “releasers,” which includes teams and the NHLPA) or their head injury claims.
Simon agreed to settle the matter, but Carcillo refused.
Carcillo said. The Athletic 2019, “I just, I know I'm not taking it, and that's it. Recommended.'' do not have To take it. But read and understand the details, and if you need the money, do whatever you think is necessary. There are people from various positions. Can he spend $22,000 on treatment now? Of course he could. Would you like to receive it? Absolutely not. “
Carcillo, pictured here with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2014, played nine seasons in the NHL before suffering his seventh concussion and leaving the sport. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
While Carcillo and Nowinski agree on the NHL's handling of the issue, they also agree that CTE is often misunderstood by the public. Nowinski said it's important for people to understand that “suicide is multifactorial” and is usually the result of a variety of issues within the individual.
“Not all people with CTE are suicidal. But we know that having multiple traumatic brain injuries increases the risk of suicide,” Nowinski said. “CTE is not a death sentence. You can overcome it, but it takes effort.”
Carcillo is a prime example of what Nowinski is talking about. In 2015, at the age of 30, Carcillo suffered the seventh concussion of his nine-season NHL career and retired from the sport.
“Medical professionals told me I had mild dementia and it was incurable. I had CTE-like symptoms,” Carcillo said.
After spending about $250,000 on various medications and vestibular therapy, Carcillo saw no improvement in his symptoms. He suffered from anxiety, depression, migraines, and suicidal thoughts.
In a last ditch effort, Carcillo turned to psychedelic therapy as an alternative to painkillers and anxiety medications that had failed to effectively treat his illness. And after using psilocybin, an active compound found in what are commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” he noticed almost instantaneous relief from his debilitating symptoms.
“After two doses, I had a clean brain scan and blood tests. I've been doing this for five years now. I'm currently using mushrooms in low doses to flush out neuroinflammation,” says Carcillo. he said. “I know I had CTE. But thanks to the proactive approach I took, I know I won't die from it.”
Carcillo wants to reach out directly to former players who are suffering from post-concussion symptoms, as he believes there are gaps in the way the current system is implemented.
“These tools are here,” Carcillo said. “They're here for the NHL Alumni Association and the NHLPA. Chris Simon had CTE-like symptoms. No one helped him. This is what happens when you don't have support. ”
The NHL Alumni Association declined to be quoted for this article, but the organization said: The Athletic They work hard behind the scenes to help hundreds of former players who may be dealing with mental health, financial and other issues after retirement. For example, while former players like Simon may have had access to mental health and substance use resources, the onus is on retired players, their families and friends to contact the NHL Alumni Association to begin the process. The NHL Alumni Association does not wish to publish their research or discuss whether Simon was part of the program during his lifetime, as discretion and confidentiality are paramount for the program to be effective. Stated.
For active players, the league and NHLPA have agreed to a joint concussion protocol, a comprehensive document covering education, testing, evaluation and concussion management. Educational materials include videos that players and staff must watch, as well as educational pamphlets that are distributed to players and their families in the event of a concussion.
As this is directly related to CTE, the NHLPA released its most recent statement on this matter in May 2019. Part of the statement reads as follows: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited previous research suggesting that CTE is caused in part by repeated trauma to the brain, including concussive and subconcussive events. In this regard, our focus has long been on concussions in sport and ensuring that athletes receive the treatment they need. Among other steps we've taken, we've hired a leading medical consultant who is an expert on concussions to ensure we're up to date on the latest research on concussions, CTE, and other issues related to brain injury. ”
Every year, the NHLPA has neurologist Dr. Jeff Kutcher conduct a seminar on concussions and brain health during its annual player orientation program. Current NHL players are encouraged to contact Dr. Kutcher directly if they have specific questions regarding CTE and concussions.
Carcillo, who twice led the league in penalty minutes, doesn't think fighting should be eliminated from the sport. But he has been watching intently as the debate over the fight was reignited by New York Rangers rookie Matt Lempe, with whom he fought four times in his first seven NHL games.
“What people like Matt Rempe should know is that I'm all for informed consent. Fighting is and should be part of the game. But , we need to educate people about the risks. And the players need to get used to it and buy into it, ”said Carcillo. “If the league's stance is that there's no definitive link, why would they go to the effort of educating players about the risks?” That goes against the stance they're taking. Dew. ”
“We have an opportunity to educate our players with informed consent,” Nowinski said. “Informed consent will drive reform in hockey, but that's not necessarily something we can predict.”
Carcillo and Nowinski hope Simon's death will bring the uncomfortable topics of concussions, CTE and mental health back into the spotlight — hopefully with a different outcome. I hope.
“We lost another hockey player and another enforcer. I've been talking about this for nine years, and the story hasn't changed,” Carcillo said. “We can use these opportunities to talk about the risks of repeated head trauma and combat.”
“It breaks my heart to see so many more players die in such tragic circumstances,” Nowinski said. “I’m angry that we can’t have honest conversations about what’s going on.”
(Top photo of Chris Simon with the Calgary Flames in 2005: Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
