The Players Tribune

[CarltonTheBear]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/sports/hockey/

Some of you may know about this site already, I know a couple of articles from it have already been posted in other threads, but I felt it could use a separate thread because the articles here are really pretty great. They basically host articles written by former and current players. Sounds basic, but all the articles to date have just been fantastic.

Here's one that went up today by Pascal Dupuis on the blood clot injury he's had to deal with: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/in-my-blood/

Igor Larionov also wrote one last week, basically on his thoughts of the game today and Soviet-style hockey: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/miracle-on-ice-hockey-russia/

 

[Bender]

That was an incredible article by dupuis

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I had read the Shanny one a while back, but caught up on them all last night.

Thanks for posting, personally I found the Larionov one to be the most interesting. Seems like a lot of merit to what he had to say.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Another good one: Scott Gomez

Early in my career, I?d hear about guys with long scoreless droughts and just think, How?s that even possible? It made no sense to me.

But then there I was, sitting on the bench for the Montreal Canadiens, watching our home fans in the stands dancing around in sombreros and singing ?Happy Birthday? in honor of my one-year goal drought.

By that point, I was fully aware of my poor play. My lack of scoring was the subject of TV reports, newspaper columns and, yes, its own website. But it was at that moment, serving as the butt of a bad joke for 20,000 fans at the Bell Centre, that it hit me hardest.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/not-done/

 

[L K]

Another good one: Scott Gomez

Early in my career, I?d hear about guys with long scoreless droughts and just think, How?s that even possible? It made no sense to me.

But then there I was, sitting on the bench for the Montreal Canadiens, watching our home fans in the stands dancing around in sombreros and singing ?Happy Birthday? in honor of my one-year goal drought.

By that point, I was fully aware of my poor play. My lack of scoring was the subject of TV reports, newspaper columns and, yes, its own website. But it was at that moment, serving as the butt of a bad joke for 20,000 fans at the Bell Centre, that it hit me hardest.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/not-done/

That contract was brutal, but you do have to feel bad for him.  It's nice that he's had a pretty nice bounce-back year this year.  He also managed to get through his 1000th game this season.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

A new piece by Kevin Shattenkirk (ok, if you've been paying attention, these articles are somewhat ghostwritten, but the insights and analysis is all from Shattenkirk):

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/elite-defensemen-101-kevin-shattenkirk-nhl/

He looks at the top defencemen in the game. Brings up Doughty, Weber, Suter, Keith, Subban, Karlsson, Letang, and Pietrangelo, and explains what makes each of them special. As a defenceman myself (well, in ball hockey but a lot still applies) I was definitely taking some notes reading it.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Daniel Carcillo talks about losing his friend Steve Montador and how the NHL/NHLPA doesn't have a program to help players leaving the game due to concussions.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/nhl-daniel-carcillo-steve-montador-video/

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Daniel Carcillo talks about losing his friend Steve Montador and how the NHL/NHLPA doesn't have a program to help players leaving the game due to concussions.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/nhl-daniel-carcillo-steve-montador-video/

I suspect there will be a significant response to this, good for him for speaking out so honestly.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Daniel Carcillo talks about losing his friend Steve Montador and how the NHL/NHLPA doesn't have a program to help players leaving the game due to concussions.

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/nhl-daniel-carcillo-steve-montador-video/

Finally got around to watching this. Very touching. I don't think that I've ever seen a professional athlete open up emotionally like that before.

 

[draeko17]

Wow.  That was very moving, the article and the video.

 

[Coco-puffs]

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/out-of-the-shadows/

Hayley Wickenheiser speaks out about the lack of a support system for NHL players in the aftermath of Montador's passing.  Not quite as moving as Carcillo's, but it's still a strong statement that shouldn't be ignored by the NHL/NHLPA and hockey community in general.  Even junior leagues need to do more to prepare their players for life after hockey.

 

[louisstamos]

Bryce Salvador's piece was very well done:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/bryce-salvador-devils-retirement/

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rich Clune, former OHLer (Sarnia Sting)  and NHLer, talks about his bout with drug & alcohol addiction at an early age in his junior career and including the NHL. 

Today, Clune is addiction free, a recovered alcoholic living in Los Angeles pursuing his interests in art and film.

Here is his story:
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rich-clune-hockey-nhl/

 

[louisstamos]

Rich Clune, former OHLer (Sarnia Sting)  and NHLer, talks about his bout with drug & alcohol addiction at an early age in his junior career and including the NHL. 

Today, Clune is addiction free, a recovered alcoholic living in Los Angeles pursuing his interests in art and film.

Here is his story:
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rich-clune-hockey-nhl/

Didn't Rich just sign with the Marlies?  Or am I confusing him with someone else?

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Rich Clune, former OHLer (Sarnia Sting)  and NHLer, talks about his bout with drug & alcohol addiction at an early age in his junior career and including the NHL. 

Today, Clune is addiction free, a recovered alcoholic living in Los Angeles pursuing his interests in art and film.

Here is his story:
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/rich-clune-hockey-nhl/

Didn't Rich just sign with the Marlies?  Or am I confusing him with someone else?

Yeah, he signed with the Marlies not long after that article was written in July.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Patrick O'Sullivan on his abusive father and his path to the NHL:

http://www.theplayerstribune.com/patrick-osullivan-nhl-abuse/

When I filled out the police report, I just gave the basics. I could have gone on for hundreds of pages, and I wish I had, because my father got out of jail after a month or two. The restraining order I took out against him said he couldn?t come within 100 feet of me, but it didn?t stop him from showing up to my games.

I?d see him up there in his same spot, watching me.

A few years later, his dream finally came true. I was selected in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. The NHL assigned me an entire security team for the day, but I knew it was useless. He made sure he was seated right where I could see him.

So when I got up on stage and I pulled on the Minnesota Wild sweater, I knew he was in the building watching, and it made me absolutely furious. Not because of all the pain I endured. But because I knew that he believed, in his heart, that all his abuse was validated. He thought he was the reason I made it to the NHL. The ends justified the means.

Man, I know that his father was common knowledge within the NHL world, but reading it like this is just heart-breaking/terrifying.

 

[Kin]

It's a great article obviously but while I'm sure the first half of his article will grab the headlines, I really hope people pay just as much attention to the second half. My very limited interactions with hockey parenting in this country has been pretty dispiriting.

 

[L K]

It's a great article obviously but while I'm sure the first half of his article will grab the headlines, I really hope people pay just as much attention to the second half. My very limited interactions with hockey parenting in this country has been pretty dispiriting.

It's very true, hockey isn't a game anymore for kids.  Even the lowest levels of the game have these nutjobs.  Just yesterday I had a parent try and force me to sign return to play papers for their 14 year old coming off his 3rd concussion in 4 months who is blatantly symptomatic.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I remember when I was young playing there were nutjobs too.  I'm glad I stayed at a lower level, the higher the level of hockey it seemed the crazier the parents.

 

[Kin]

It's a great article obviously but while I'm sure the first half of his article will grab the headlines, I really hope people pay just as much attention to the second half. My very limited interactions with hockey parenting in this country has been pretty dispiriting.

It's very true, hockey isn't a game anymore for kids.  Even the lowest levels of the game have these nutjobs.  Just yesterday I had a parent try and force me to sign return to play papers for their 14 year old coming off his 3rd concussion in 4 months who is blatantly symptomatic.

Speaking of, this New York Times Op-Ed is at the very least worth thinking about:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/opinion/dont-let-kids-play-football.html