Steve Montador passes away at age 35

[Boreal]

Originally Posted by Buster

And people wonder why I watch hockey and football, but will discourage my kids to play it.

Your statement makes as much sense as discouraging someone from eating because obesity and anorexia exist. There are endless number of ways participation in sports extend way beyond the professional game where the negative impacts are sensationalized.

Also this thread is about Steve not about you or your kids.

[Beatle17]

Listening to Warrener this morning on the radio he had a wonderful commentary on the feelings of players after retiring. Basically after years of being told what to do, when to do it and getting the adoration for years you basically have no plan when you retire. You have the money but the feeling of getting up each day without something to do finally hits and then you get down (not depressed in a clinical way) but get wondering what do I do with my life.

He said that every year the players have exit interviews and the team was asking him questions about how to improve the team etc., until the last year when they didn't ask him anything. He said he should have known it was up then. He also commented that the PA does nothing for them either. The PA call about September or October and say they noticed you are not on anyone's active roster and if you need something to give them a call for career advice, which most players don't call about because they only offer it in the East and nobody wants to fly out for 2 days. He even stated that within days their code for access to the players site is disconnected.

I thought it was a very touching commentary and it really put it in perspective what happens to most athletes. Very few plan for the future.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Listening to Warrener this morning on the radio he had a wonderful commentary on the feelings of players after retiring. Basically after years of being told what to do, when to do it and getting the adoration for years you basically have no plan when you retire. You have the money but the feeling of getting up each day without something to do finally hits and then you get down (not depressed in a clinical way) but get wondering what do I do with my life.

He said that every year the players have exit interviews and the team was asking him questions about how to improve the team etc., until the last year when they didn't ask him anything. He said he should have known it was up then. He also commented that the PA does nothing for them either. The PA call about September or October and say they noticed you are not on anyone's active roster and if you need something to give them a call for career advice, which most players don't call about because they only offer it in the East and nobody wants to fly out for 2 days. He even stated that within days their code for access to the players site is disconnected.

I thought it was a very touching commentary and it really put it in perspective what happens to most athletes. Very few plan for the future.

Thank you

Since its from a host, will that audio be posted online? I'd like to hear that.

[Beatle17]

Warrener also stated that the first person to ask if he was doing OK was Ron Stern. He ran into Stern at a function and was asked point blank if he was doing OK. Stern sat down and talked with him because he thought he looked "lost". To me what Stern did shows leadership and caring for his fellow people, great move. I think more of the players from past decades probably show less "depression" etc., because most of them made connections outside of the hockey world with business people because the money may have been less.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Thank you

Since its from a host, will that audio be posted online? I'd like to hear that.

I don't know if it will. They were talking about Montador and it just kind of morphed into that discussion.

it's on Sportnet's web page now sportsnet.ca/960/on-demand (don't know how to link)

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, how many retirements are forced and how many are voluntary? I would guess it's the guys who have their careers ended by injury or inability to get that next contract who struggle the most.

You have to commend a guy like Ronnie Stern who ran into Warren and took the onus to talk to him, and ask him some honest questions.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Andrew Alberts was on the radio the other day getting interviewed on Team 1040 in Vancouver and he's pretty bitter about the McGrattan hit from last year. He said it would have been nice if McGrattan gave him a call afterwards to say he didn't mean to end his career.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Andrew Alberts was on the radio the other day getting interviewed on Team 1040 in Vancouver and he's pretty bitter about the McGrattan hit from last year. He said it would have been nice if McGrattan gave him a call afterwards to say he didn't mean to end his career.

From what I recall, Andrew Alberts tried to come back too early and had some type of re-injury in practice. I imagine it wasn't his first concussion either.

[sureLoss]

per Eric Francis, Montador's child was born yesterday

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/02/20...is-son-is-born

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

per Eric Francis, Montador's child was born yesterday

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/02/20...is-son-is-born

just came here to post this. I feel tremendous sadness for his family and his son. More comments from friends like Warrener that really bring insight into how loved he was.

[Flashpoint]

Awww jeeze. The poor guy and his family. The NHL needs to become the pro sports leader in post career support. There is no excuse for this kind of thing! These players aren't disposable.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

Following the Wild game the other night, I caught the end of a conversation that Strombo, Kypreous (sorry for the spelling - on the road) and a couple other dudes were having. They were talking about how most guys don't know what to do with themselves, post NHL career.

I thought it was a good conversation and something worth discussing further, here on CP. Probably warrants it's own thread.

I saw that too and it was an interesting discussion. Corey Hirsch was one of the guests and was basically saying that once he left hockey and lost his coaching job with (I believe) St. Louis, no one called him to hire him and he came to the realization that he had no other skills to fall back on. He said that players need to do things to earn those skills during their playing career so they have something to fall back on when their career wraps up. Colby Armstrong was the other guest and echoed the same sentiments. Armstrong said he recently asked Crosby what he was going to do when he retired and Crosby said he already had in idea that he wanted to start some sort of hockey school after his playing days were done.

Found a link here.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/l...sch-armstrong/

Just goes to show that even though these guys dedicate their lives to the game with training and playing time, they need to have life and work skills that the rest of society has and that we usually take for granted. We see these guys are millionaires who make way more then they should and that they are set for life once they are done playing. But they are human beings just like us.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

Following the Wild game the other night, I caught the end of a conversation that Strombo, Kypreous (sorry for the spelling - on the road) and a couple other dudes were having. They were talking about how most guys don't know what to do with themselves, post NHL career.

I thought it was a good conversation and something worth discussing further, here on CP. Probably warrants it's own thread.

It was a good clip:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/l...sch-armstrong/

[rbochan]

Sabres create scholarship fund to honor Steve Montador

Steve Montador’s tragic death at age 35 shocked the hockey world, but the Buffalo Sabres are doing their best to make sure the blueliner who played with the club for two seasons isn’t forgotten...

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/sa...teve-montador/

[Delthefunky]

Wow, that's classy Buffalo, great job.

[morgin]

https://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...-the-head.html

Interesting from Dryden. Will have to read this.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by morgin

https://www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...-the-head.html

Interesting from Dryden. Will have to read this.

This is worthy of its own thread.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Russic

It was a good clip:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/l...sch-armstrong/

I think there could definitely be more of a support mechanism in place by the NHLPA and NHL as far as setting up a transition committee filled by ex players and mental health experts. There should be countless opportunities for ex players to get involved with both pro and community level coaching, local media/broadcasting and charities that would help remedy much of these issues.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I think there could definitely be more of a support mechanism in place by the NHLPA and NHL as far as setting up a transition committee filled by ex players and mental health experts. There should be countless opportunities for ex players to get involved with both pro and community level coaching, local media/broadcasting and charities that would help remedy much of these issues.

The problem with ex players being in the employ of the NHL as part of a support network for current/former players is that they are either part of or related to the class action suit against the NHL right now.
Its going to have to come from somewhere other than the league, unfortunately.