The latest public data shows 19 of 20 NHL players studied at the Boston University CTE Center, including Bobby Hull, Ralph Backstrom, Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, and Derek Boogaard have had CTE. Those diagnoses were reported in a December 2024 BU study that found the odds of developing CTE increased by 34% for each year of hockey played.
Despite the research, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman still refuses to acknowledge the link between playing in the NHL and developing CTE.
“The NHL can do better to protect its players’ safety,” said Anne Byers. “Athletes deserve to know what head injuries can do so they can make informed decisions about their bodies and work in an environment that supports their health first.” [May 28, 2026]
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“vi became an enforcer bc it’s in her LOL lore !1!1! it had to happen 1!!1!1”
oh, just like how jinx somehow magically gained sanity, cut her hair and then faked her death in LOL lore? or how caitlyn lost her eye in the “big battle” in LOL lore? or how—
Enforcers have always been a huge part of the NHL. Generally big (over 6' and 250lbs), kinda slow. Not necessarily the most skilled hockey players, but that's not why they're on the ice.
Enforcers are often fan favourites; they are usually the ones fighting, which fans enjoy. Pests draw penalties by annoying other players, grinders check hard to clear lanes, but enforcers show up and defend their team mates.
Enforcers are also the players most likely to suffer from advanced CTE at a young age, and show the most significant personality shifts as CTE advances. Getting punched in the face at least once per game, 82 times (or more) per year is gonna fuck you up a bit.
At least one enforcer (Marty McSorley) was charge with assault for on-ice actions when he hit Donald Brashear in the head and knocked him to the ice, causing Brashear a Grade 3 concussion.
McSorely was suspended after the incident. When he was found guilty of assault, the NHL extended his suspension to a full year - the longest for an on ice incident - and McSorely's contract expired in that time. He never played for the NHL again.
What McSorely did was terrible, but what is more terrible is the NHL and the MJHL promote a culture of on ice violence, then refuse to back their players when they "go too far," as if a player could even know what too far is.
In the film "Hello Destroyer," Tyson Burr (played by Jared Abrahamson) is a rookie in the WHL (the Western Canada Major Junior League), playing for the Prince George team. During a break in a game, the coach is screaming at the team to play harder, to fight, to beat the other team. It's violent, it's loud, it's a grown man screaming at a group of children whose lives he controls. On his next shift, Tyson performs a legal hit on a player that causes a severe injury.
Tyson is made to take full responsibility for the hit, claim it was done without anyone else's encouragement, and is suspended from the team indefinitely. The family he is billeted with kicks him out, the entire town turns on him, and the team voids his contract.
If the hit - which absolutely was clean - had not caused the traumatic injury, Tyson would have been hailed a hero, built himself a reputation, and gone on to the majors to do the same thing there while people chanted "BURR-Y HIM!"
In the film we see Tyson explaining that his parents used to play him music to drown out the ringing in his ears after a game. Tyson is shown to be gentle with the kids he's billeted with, and helpful around the house. He's quiet and kind.
The coach who spurred him into the hit rejects him. The team rejects him. The town rejects him. The family he's been told will take care of him rejects him.
Tyson is a boy being violent in a violent culture, but he's the only one punished for that.
The McSorely/Brashear incident occurred in 2000, and restarted a lot of conversations about violence on the ice. These conversations have always existed in pro men's hockey, and are never really addressed properly, and then just sort of die down until the next big incident.
Gary Bettman, the Piece of Shit commissioner of the NHL, has said as recently as 2013 that there will not be more rules about fighting in hockey, because no one involved - players, admin or owners - want more rules.
Why do I bring this all up?
To remind you pro hockey is terrible to the players it treats like meat.
Some GCU fans think Fabian is toxic for "making" Ryan quit hockey.
Let me be so. Fucking. Clear.
Fabian probably saved Ryan's life. I am not being hyperbolic.
In Tough Guy, Ryan is a mess. His back is fucked. He has near crippling anxiety about flying. He "freaked out" the previous season - had a panic attack while playing - and the medication he's taking to manage that is barely working.
He's never connected with any of his team mates because he's traded every season. He's not really seen his family in years because his flight anxiety is so high that short trips home are too much to deal with. He makes friends with Wyatt, only to have Wyatt traded to Ottawa.
When Ryan throws out his back over Christmas, the team doctor starts using toradol injections to get Ryan on the ice every game. Toradol isn't addictive, but Ryan is also on painkillers off the ice, likely opiates.
In addition to this, Ryan asks for sleeping pills because he's not sleeping well.
When Duncan Harvie dies, Ryan is forced to reckon with a possible future. Harvie has been battling opiate addiction for some time. He's not connected with his family; his parents are dead and his sister apparently didn't attend the funeral. The only players are Ilya and Ryan. No one who's on Duncan's team bothers to attend, and they could have, because Duncan's funeral is during the bye week for All Stars.
The Duncan Harvie story is very, very real. Several enforcers have died either by suicide or by accidently mixing their painkillers with alcohol. Others have simply died in their sleep. Others retire, are lost after retirement, and fall into bankruptcy and homelessness. Others go back to their families and their families don't even recognize them because of the personality changes brought on by advanced CTE.
Their lives are brutal, often marked by depression and anxiety, and far too short.
Georges Laraque, a famous enforcer who played mostly for the Oilers, spoke of the role of enforcer like this:
"The worst part is never the fight itself, because the adrenaline kicks in and you don't feel the hits. The worst part was the night before, the day of the game, the constant pressure of knowing you would have to do it again. You couldn't enjoy a movie, or relax, because you were already preparing for the next fight."
Again I say this. Fabian saved Ryan's life.
The enforcer role is slowly being phased out of the NHL. There are still heavy hitters (Tom Wilson comes to mind) but the game is a lot faster now, and a slow skater whose only job is to punch people is a pretty expensive resource in the hard salary cap era.
But likely what has done the most to end the role is the 2011 off season.
This is the part that was giving me the most trouble, y'all, so please be patient, or protect yourselves and skip the next few paragraphs.
CW: Suicide. Death.
On May 13, 2011, after a long battle with substance use, Derek Boogaard, a beloved enforcer for the Wild and the Rangers, died by an accidental combination of oxycodone and alcohol.
Derek was a soft, shy and quiet man, according to his family, but his on ice nickname was The Boogeyman, because he terrified other players. That summer, he was in rehab for the second time, but was on a recess to see his sister graduate university.
He was 28 years old
His brain showed signs of advanced CTE
On August 15, 2011, after battling anxiety and depression, Rick Rypien, a well known enforcer for the Canucks, was found dead by suicide in his home in Coleman, Alberta.
Rypien had not struggled with sibstance use, but he'd had significant mental health struggles that began when he played in the WHL and his girlfriend died in a serious car accident as she was driving to see him play in Calgary. He never got over the guilt.
He was 27 years old.
His brain showed signs of advanced CTE
On August 31, 2011, Wade Belak, a famous enforcer who had recently retired, was found dead in a hotel in Toronto. His death was ruled a suicide, but his family maintains it was accidental.
Wade was well liked by everyone in his life and was known to be charming, witty, and gregarious. However, Belak suffered from depression, and had been on anti depressants for about five years prior to his death.
He was 35. He had two young children.
His brain showed signs of advanced CTE
Other Enforcers who died too young include:
Steve Montador - sudden death in his sleep. He had 4 concussions in 12 weeks but was cleared to play apparently against medical advice. I guess coaches and admin just don't know how to say "no, fuck you, go home." He was showing signs of CTE, including memory loss and personality changes. He was 35.
Claude Lemiuex - suicide, after struggling with depression. Three days before his death, he carried the torch into Centre Bell at a Canadiens game. His family donated his brain to be studied for CTE. He was 60.
John Kordic - died of pulmonary failure after police subdued him. He had been struggling with alcohol addiction. John's fiancee said "he didn't want to fight. He HAD to fight to play hockey." He was 27.
Todd Ewen - suicide, after struggling with depression and CTE. He was 49.
Bob Probert - heart failure, after struggling with addiction and depression. His brain showed signs of CTE. He was 45.
Chris Simon - Suicide, after struggling with CTE. He was 52.
Like many of the men I just discussed, Ryan is described as gentle, shy, and quiet. In juniors, he's the only hockey player that Fabian's family billeted who wasn't unkind or dismissive towards Fabian, and actually attends Fabian's graduation recital while Fabian's family goes to his sister's hockey game.
Ryan has come to hate hockey but - like many pro players who are on the fringes - Ryan knows he's lucky to be in the pros. Getting to the show ain't easy, but he's made it.
Ryan's been playing professionally since he was 17 - The Major Junior leagues in Canada are paid leagues. He was also attending high school at the time, but many players end up dropping out.
Ryan doesn't know how to do anything else. He hasn't really ever had the option of exploring it. And hockey has made him relatively wealthy.
Walking away from something he used to love that paid him well, to do absolutely nothing, is terrifying.
Fabian not only makes Ryan see he's worth more than his fists, he offers Ryan a soft place to land, a group of adoring friends, and a purpose for living, so Ryan can walk away from something that no longer serves him with no regrets.
Maybe Ryan starts coaching. Maybe he goes to university and gets an education degree (although the CTE he no doubt has a head start on might make that difficult). Maybe he never does anything ever again but lug Fabian's equipment on tour across Canada.
But whatever happens, never doubt for a second that Ryan made the right decision to leave.
Everyone say "Thank You Fabian!" for saving our favourite hot lumberjack/viking
CLIMB HIM LIKE A TREE FABIAN, YOU FUCKING EARNED IT.
If anyone knows the artist for this picture, please tag them, TikTok dragged me all over without giving a name
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
