In Wake Of Loss, Daniel Carcillo Conscious Of CTE Risks
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- On the north end of the United Center press box, Daniel Carcillo donned a suit as his Blackhawks battled the Ducks in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Thursday evening.
Just down the way on the south end of the press box, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stood and addressed a topic that hits close to home for Carcillo. Bettman expressed to reporters that there's no connection between hockey and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is better known as CTE.
"From a medical science standpoint, there is no evidence yet that one necessarily leads to the other," Bettman said. "I know there are a lot of theories, but if you ask people who study it, they tell you there is no statistical correlation that can definitively make that conclusion."
A 30-year-old veteran of 10 NHL seasons, Carcillo is known for his rough, physical style of play. "Car Bomb" has been the nickname for the enforcer who has taken on almost any fight and delivered countless punishing hits. He has been suspended 12 times during his NHL career.
Tragedy has opened Carcillo's eyes to the risks of his health in hockey. The sudden death of former teammate and close friend Steve Montador changed his perspective.
Montador was found dead at his home on Feb. 15. At the time, Carcillo was preparing for Chicago's Sunday matinee game with Pittsburgh when he received the stunning news. He discussed this in a video with The Players' Tribune.
"I went to the trainers' room to try and finish tying my skates without anyone noticing the tears," Carcillo said in the video. "I didn't want to be a distraction for the guys. It was a big game. I told JT, one of our trainers, what had happened. I tried to put on my best face and finish getting ready back at my locker. That's when Johnny Toews noticed something wasn't right. I don't think I was doing a good job of hiding it. He pulled me back into the lounge and I told him what happened. Johnny hugged me and tried to calm me down. But I was inconsolable."
On May 12, an autopsy on Montador's brain revealed he did have CTE. His family plans to file a lawsuit against the NHL. Montador was aware of his concussion history and open about his battle with depression. Now, Carcillo is attempting to be aware of CTE, too.
"I watched Steve delve into the research and really try to figure out what's going on," Carcillo said in an interview Friday, one day after Bettman's comments. "One of the reasons he was struggling so much is because the more you researched, the more you realize there's no reverse to what symptoms you have."
Asked specifically about Bettman's comments, Carcillo declined to elaborate. He also didn't want to discuss the NHLPA and its dealings with current players and their health. However, Carcillo wants the public to know what struggles some athletes face.
"You see guys talking about how the public perceives this glamorous lifestyle of a professional athlete, and it's not all it's cracked out to be," Carcillo said.
Carcillo has just four goals and four assists with the Blackhawks this season and he's been a healthy scratch in the playoffs, but his year will be remembered for a vicious check on Winnipeg's Mathieu Perreault that led to his 12th career suspension and then the important video on The Players' Tribune.
In a way, the image of Carcillo has shifted, as he's now seen as an advocate for the betterment of NHL players.
Struggling with the loss of a friend like Montador has forced Carcillo to consider bigger things than hockey. He's concerned about the damage to the brain from fights and concussions, because 10 years of physical hockey takes its toll.
"I'm just trying to wake up, come in here, be happy every day, enjoy my life, enjoy my kid," Carcillo said. "That's all I'm trying to do right now."
The open, honest discussion from Carcillo on a difficult subject is at the opposite end of the spectrum from the NHL's commissioner.
Follow Chris on Twitter @CEmma670.