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Guest4038
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 Posted - 08/31/2011 : 15:46:36
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the former enforcer was found dead in a hotel room today in Toronto. no word as yet on the cause of his death.
RIP
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Guest0910
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Posted - 08/31/2011 : 15:56:14
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Insane year... Boogaard, Rypien and now Belak. He always seemed like such a happy guy too. Funny in interviews etc.
What is going on with these enforcers? So sad. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 16:04:17
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Heard he was in TO for the "Battle of the Blades"? Not sure if he was in it, judging it or what, but regardless, another tragedy! WTF is going on???
RIP |
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Sensfan101
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
500 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 16:10:39
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He was always my favourite leaf. He always had something funny to say during his interviews.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take Wayne Gretzky |
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Porkchop73
PickupHockey Pro
640 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 16:18:25
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| Just finished reading the story, unbelievable. One of my favourite former Leaf players. |
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Oilearl
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
268 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 16:45:58
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I'm shocked by this news!! how sad I agree WTF is going on??? |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 16:59:03
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| one news article said suicide by hanging. very sad, a sad offseason for sure. |
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MrBoogedy
Rookie
Canada
195 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2011 : 22:42:13
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| pure craziness. Hopefully he's the last. |
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MrBoogedy
Rookie
Canada
195 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 00:05:22
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| I just heard George Laraque on CBC radio, and he said that though there are 3 recent deaths, he knows at least 20 people carrying the demons of what he considers the harderst job in professional sports, the hockey enforcer. He recommends a group for enforcers headed by retired players who held that job on the ice and know what kind of physical and mental tolls it takes. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 04:45:37
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I also caught just a bit of Laraque talking about it. Of all the hockey enforcers I ever heard speak on anything, I respect Laraque the most - he is an honest, open, fairly intelligent guy, not at all what you might expect.
I think we should take a guy like Laraque, and listen closely to him. There are too many people in the NHL fraternity (not that it's that different than other sports in this regard) who continually cover things over, won't speak openly about stuff, etc.
What we need is more open and frank discussion on it. Clearly, young men in the prime of their life, former or present professional athletes in great physical shape . . . shouldn't be killing themselves.
3 in a few months is just shocking. Like an epidemic.
I'll stay away from saying anything on Belak though . . . trying to stay with what my mother always told me, if you get my drift.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2011 : 07:55:38
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Tyson Nash also had a pretty scathing statement towards the NHLPA on his twitter after this unfortunate event. To summarize, it basically said once and NHL player is not longer a player then PA tosses them aside like a bag of garbage.
I think the hockey enforcer is such an enigma that it doesn't get the respect it deserves from us fans. Think about it for a second, some kid is taught from about the age of 15-16 that he is a good enough hockey player to make a career but not in a skill position. His job is to fight. I don't think it's human nature to enjoy bashing the crap out of someone else. Specifically if that person has done nothing to you to deserve and your career depends on in. I liken it to training dogs for dog fighting. What happens to the dog after they are not longer good at fighting???
I do blame the NHL and the NHLPA directly for the current and past situations (Probert, Kordic, etc) for creating and supporting the environment where a guy can make more money than he ever imagined by beating people up and not giving them any kind of tools or coping mechanisms to decompress from their jobs. However, this is an entire hockey culture thing and every has some responsibility in this, from the junior system, to minor league hockey, to hockey parents, and to Joe Fan that continues to support and applaud fighting in hockey. It's sad that even people dying doesn't change that.....
The sadest thing of all is Wade Belak's wife, daughters, family and friends deserved better than this.
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leigh
Moderator
Canada
1755 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2011 : 13:43:57
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Proof that you can't judge a book by it's cover. And proof that we as fans just never know who the true person is inside the player. Belak always appeared to be to be a fun and good-spirited person who was loving life. His jovial TV persona only hid what must have been going on inside because from an outsider's point of view he was living the dream - great career, wife, kids, dream job and financial strength. You have to wonder what more you could ask for. What demons was he fighting? Truely sad. I'm no Leafs fan but I always loved Belak, so today my heart is broken and my mind is at a loss for understanding. A tragic loss for his family and the hockey community.
No doubt, this will be a summer that all will remember, but most will wish to forget. Rest in peace Belak, Rypien and Boogaard. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 05:45:08
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FYI folks - I received insider information on Belak's death.
It was not a suicide, it was accidental.
I don't want to get too much farther into details because of the nature of what happened . . . it is the reason why the police are being so vague about it. It was just a crazy, bad accident resulting in death.
My source is my good work friend, who is good buddies with a few hockey players, one of which was Belak's recent ex-teammate. They had been good friends, and my buddy learned of the real cause of death and told me on the sly.
Please believe me when I say I really can't get into the details, just know that it was not suicide, it was an accident.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 06:57:17
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Slozo, please do not take this as me arguing or discrediting your statement. If this is true, I would think his family would want the world to know it as not suicide. The common fan believes it was and even if the family does not want people to know the truth for what ever reason (kinky sexual/fetish thing, drug related)
if it was public knowledge of an accident rather than suicide it would give his legacy more positivity.
An accident makes more sense than suicide based on literally every interview of anyone who knew him. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 07:16:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
Slozo, please do not take this as me arguing or discrediting your statement. If this is true, I would think his family would want the world to know it as not suicide. The common fan believes it was and even if the family does not want people to know the truth for what ever reason (kinky sexual/fetish thing, drug related)
if it was public knowledge of an accident rather than suicide it would give his legacy more positivity.
An accident makes more sense than suicide based on literally every interview of anyone who knew him.
No worries Beans - I fully realise that I am being vague here, and it's hard to believe things when one isn't being specific and giving sources.
The family has chosen to put a lid on it because it does fit into one of the categories you listed in brackets. And some reports were saying it was ruled accidental now, I thought.
PJ Stock's comments in this article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/does-the-public-need-to-know-details-of-belaks-death/article2153321/
His comments exactly echo the story I have been told personally. From what I just googled, he is the only NHL guy who has come out and hinted at this though, so clearly, the family has wished this so.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 07:29:40
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No worries Slozo. I actually have a pile of respect for anyone who does have internal knowledge of some type and can share it in a way that keeps their source secure. I personally know a few former and current NHLer that have talked to me about some internal things and I would NEVER come on here or anywhere else and make statements using their name.
Accidental strangulation brings up an entirely new line of speculations. However, the comments by Belak's mother that he battled depression speaks to a different direction. I think we may never publically know what happened but hopefully this guys legacy is a positive one. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2011 : 07:35:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
No worries Slozo. I actually have a pile of respect for anyone who does have internal knowledge of some type and can share it in a way that keeps their source secure. I personally know a few former and current NHLer that have talked to me about some internal things and I would NEVER come on here or anywhere else and make statements using their name.
Accidental strangulation brings up an entirely new line of speculations. However, the comments by Belak's mother that he battled depression speaks to a different direction. I think we may never publically know what happened but hopefully this guys legacy is a positive one.
Yeah, I had read the quote from his mom. And I have read from a couple of sources that he was taking some sort of medication for depression, but that he had it under control.
Here's a cut and paste from a puckdaddy article:
Meanwhile, Mark Seidel, a chief scout for North American Central Scouting and columnist for The Hockey News, has written the following on Twitter: "Wade Belak did not kill himself and any suggestion to the contrary is simply wrong. As time passes, the truth will emerge. RIP my friend. Can't say much about Wades death but when it is all said and done, I believe that this will be ruled a horrible accident. Sorry 4 vagueness."
Anyways, that's all I am going to say further on it.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Wade Belak - RIP 
