Former Blackhawks’ enforcer, Daniel Carcillo, recently burst onto the scene in an effort to bring more awareness for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, more commonly known as CTE, to the sporting world.
CTE is a degenerative brain disease that stems from repeated concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). Over the course of his 11-year career in the NHL, Carcillo developed a reputation around the league as being a very physical player and often found himself in violent collisions and altercations with other players in the league.
Since the NHL is refusing to attack this monumental issue that plagues sports on all levels head-on, he wanted to bring his firsthand knowledge of CTE to the public eye in an effort to get the puck sliding in the right direction, and to hopefully, start making things actually happen for the people who suffer from the disease every day.
On May 15, 2018, he took a step in the right direction. Carcillo stopped by local Chicago sports radio station, 670 The Score, and talked with radio host, Danny Parkins, about CTE and the lack of protocol in the NHL. He describes his own personal struggles with the disease and goes on to call out the entire NHL and its affiliates by saying,
“This is the only professional sports league that continues to deny it. and because they deny it, they’re killing people.”
You can watch a clip from Daniel’s fiery and passionate interview with 670 The Score here:
.@CarBombBoom13 to @DannyParkins on the NHL failing to admit its direct connection to traumatic brain injuries: ‘This is the only professional sports league that continues to deny it. And because they deny it, they’re killing people’
Full podcasts: https://t.co/Wh7ZiSfouU pic.twitter.com/6glU6YNsob
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) May 15, 2018
Carcillo Takes Action Against NHL Regarding CTE
After his interview with Parkins on 670 The Score, Carcillo took to Twitter and started using the social media entity as a platform to create CTE and mental health awareness as well as call the NHL out on its wrongdoing throughout its entire existence.
Even though hockey players are generally not making as much money as athletes in other sports, to stake a claim that there is not enough money and resources for the NHL to make a change is absolutely ludicrous. As you can see here, there is more than enough capital in the NHL, and also, within each team’s payroll, to make a change regarding player safety.
Do you think each team in the @NHL can afford to hire a neurologist beginning next year, to properly diagnose and care for human beings who have sustained a #tbi while playing #hockey in the league of denial? @NHLPA @NHLPlayerSafety Retweet for yes. Like for no. 👇🏻👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/suQQnMCUwZ
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) May 16, 2018
Other sports such as the MLS, MLB, and NFL are taking appropriate precautions towards making their sports safer for their athletes. The NHL is lightyears behind in regards to player safety, sports science, and technology. You can see the evidence here and it is extremely alarming, to put it mildly.
Not judging, just saying…This is a hockey helmet cut in half, next to a football helmet that is cut in half @NHL @NHLPA @NHLPlayerSafety #nhl #nhlpa #StanleyCup #NHLPlayoffs2018 #StanleyCupPlayoffs #TBI #CTE #Alzheimers #suicide #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #youth #safety pic.twitter.com/tc1GUEmUPt
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) May 9, 2018
I am really unsure as to why more people do not talk about it, but TBI and CTE are extremely serious matters that need to be addressed, and it is really refreshing to see former players such as Daniel Carcillo, as well as others, step up as advocates. Kudos to you, Mr. Carcillo. You are doing great work and truly making a much-needed difference.
Carcillo’s Off-Ice Projects
Daniel Carcillo has founded Total Player Development, which is a holistic system for young, upcoming hockey players that includes off-ice training, physical and mental skill strengthening, and nutrition counseling.
If you would like to help out the cause and join Daniel Carcillo in his fight to bring CTE and mental health awareness to the NHL and other sports, you can find him on Twitter and Instagram.
