'Did hockey do that to me?': CTE possible contributed to ex-Canucks Gino Odjick's deterioration

Article content material

Gino Odjick cherished enjoying hockey. He cherished the competitors.

Article content material

He additionally cherished the life it had given him. Raised in a small First Nations neighborhood in Quebec, he possible would by no means have travelled as far and broad as he did with out hockey.

Article content material

And his success in hockey was thanks to at least one specific factor: his fists.

Odjick was one of many hardest gamers of his day, able to combat, to do his job as an enforcer.

However that willingness to place his physique, his mind particularly, on the road means he possible suffered from continual traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, in his later years.

Docs not too long ago revealed this to Odjick’s household and mates, his longtime pal Peter Leech instructed Postmedia this week.

CTE is related to repeated traumatic mind accidents, together with concussions and repeated blows to the top, based on the Alzheimer’s Affiliation. Regardless of mounting proof from researchers, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has lengthy rejected linking former gamers creating CTE with their NHL careers.

Article content material

A 2022 Boston College examine discovered {that a} 12 months of enjoying hockey might improve one’s probabilities of creating CTE by 23 per cent.

Within the weeks earlier than Odjick died earlier this 12 months, medical doctors at Vancouver Basic Hospital carried out a sequence of assessments, together with drawing blood and taking tissue samples from his throat, Leech mentioned.

And primarily based on the variety of concussions he possible suffered throughout his hockey profession — together with some tell-tale ends in the assessments — medical doctors mentioned it was extremely possible Odjick was affected by CTE, Leech mentioned.

“He was beginning to present indicators of forgetfulness, repeating issues,” Leech mentioned. And Odjick was in fixed ache.

The one option to definitively verify an individual has CTE is to make a bodily examination of an individual’s mind after they die.

Article content material

Article content material

However the reminiscence issues Odjick had began to exhibit are widespread in individuals who develop CTE signs later in life.

The Mayo Clinic says there are two forms of CTE sufferers.

“In adolescence between the late 20s and early 30s, the primary type of CTE might trigger psychological well being and behavioural points. Signs of this kind embrace melancholy, anxiousness, impulsive behaviour and aggression. The second type of CTE is assumed to trigger signs later in life, round age 60. These signs embrace reminiscence and considering issues which are prone to progress to dementia,” based on the clinic’s web site.

There was an opportunity he may start to endure from Alzheimer’s inside three years. With out realizing his take a look at outcomes, Odjick was conscious of what his future may maintain however he wasn’t fearful, Leech mentioned.

Article content material

“He knew and understood there was a extremely good likelihood he had CTE. We mentioned it a couple of occasions. In all probability way back to 5 years in the past. However he at all times mentioned ‘if it occurs there’s not rather a lot I can do about it. He didn’t need folks to really feel sorry for him.”

Leech mentioned realizing that hockey had opened up the world to his pal and was additionally a risk to his well being was tough, Leech admitted. However Odjick regretted none of it.

“All the pieces he did (preventing) he received to see the world. He helped affect and alter folks. He’d do all of it once more. Particularly the sunshine he delivered to Indigenous folks and causes, due to the stage he was on,” he mentioned.

“He’d by no means seemed on the long-term penalties when he was within the thick of it.”

However as he received older, Odjick thought extra about what may lie forward due to what he’d carried out in his youth.

Article content material

“We had been going to see Concussion, the Will Smith film, however he didn’t wish to see it within the theatre. After we watched it collectively at residence, I may perceive why. There have been totally different components within the film and I bear in mind he received up and he mentioned you may cease it or no matter, mentioned he had to make use of the washroom. However I noticed tears,” Leech recalled.

“The subsequent day, I requested him ‘I see you bought emotional through the film.’ He simply mentioned ‘it personally affected me” however he didn’t actually go into element. That alone instructed me he understood what was happening, the way it affected him.”

The deaths a decade in the past of former NHL fighters Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and Wade Belak additionally hit Odjick laborious.

“He was severely affected by Boogaard, he actually was, simply to listen to what transpired with him. When he heard features of the place his mind was at. He’d ask me what does it imply to your mind to be mush,” Leech mentioned.

Article content material

“I mentioned, that’s what occurs when your mind doesn’t get sufficient blood or oxygen. That’s what occurs with CTE, it softens your mind up, when it doesn’t get sufficient oxygen. He mentioned he’d examine it, however he’d by no means understood it till it was put that approach.”

Boogaard was recognized posthumously with CTE after his mind was examined by medical doctors.

Odjick was cautious about speaking about his personal well being points, although, as a result of he anxious how the general public may react. He checked out former stars like Bernie Nicholls and the way they had been handled after they referred to as out the NHL for an absence of therapy for his or her head accidents.

Nicholls was one in every of a number of high-profile gamers to sue the league for his or her accidents. They finally gained a multi-million greenback settlement, although the league acknowledged no legal responsibility for the gamers’ claims, The NHL payout paled compared to a billion-dollar settlement NFL gamers gained in opposition to their league.

Article content material

“He checked out what occurred to Bernie Nicholls and the way he was ostracized,” Leech mentioned. He mentioned he urged his pal to talk up, not as a result of he blamed the league for a way he’d performed, however for the dearth of take care of gamers like him in retirement.

“One evening I discovered him on the desk in the midst of the evening, 2:30 within the morning, listening to his nation music. He requested me ‘did hockey do that to me?’ It was difficult. He cherished hockey. That’s the place we’re caught. He’s chargeable for that, he knew that, for his motion,” he mentioned. “However the NHL has received to carry some accountability. I bear in mind telling him that, the NHL is accountable.”

“I bear in mind us speaking about another person we knew, who was struggling. ‘Be certain that he doesn’t fall by means of the cracks,’ Gino mentioned to me. And that’s the place I believe the NHL must be offering extra help. These guys performed the sport. They need to get some help, some assist with their medical payments,” he mentioned.

Article content material

“Gino was in a lot ache along with his head, was utilizing Percocet to handle his ache. These medical payments, they added up.”

[email protected]

twitter.com/risingaction

Assist our journalism: Our in-depth journalism is feasible because of the help of our subscribers. For simply $3.50 per week, you will get limitless, ad-lite entry to The Vancouver Solar, The Province, Nationwide Put up and 13 different Canadian information websites. Assist us by subscribing as we speak: The Vancouver Solar | The Province.

Article content material