Stephen Peat, a former enforcer for the Washington Capitals, has died. He was only 44 years old. He was hit by a car early on August 30th in Langley, British Columbia. The ex-NHL player was known for getting hurt on the ice. Even though people tried to save him, Peat died from his injuries. The hockey world was shocked and saddened by his death.
The NHL Alumni Association broke the sad news on Thursday and said they were very sorry. As the group said, Stephen Peat died from his injuries after a terrible accident a little more than two weeks ago. Peat’s struggles with mental health and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) were well-known, which painted a sad picture of his life after hockey for the former enforcer. His death has had an effect far beyond the rink.
This was a pivotal moment in developing my hockey fandom. RIP Stephen Peat https://t.co/LNe5d2IMTo pic.twitter.com/BqAt3AlrCz
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 12, 2024
Both Peat and his father, Walter, had long been worried about what would happen because of all the concussions he got playing hockey. Peat talked about the constant pain he was in an interview with The New York Times in 2016. I got hit on the left side of my head all the time. “That’s where all my pain is,” Peat said, describing how battles and hits had hurt his body over the years.
All the blows were to the left side of my head. That’s where all my pain is
After his last NHL game in 2006, Peat’s life went in a bad direction. He had terrible headaches that made him act strangely, which led to fights in bars and charges. Peat’s problems with addiction made things even more difficult, and he ended up losing his house. Walter, Stephen’s father, told me in 2017 that his relationship with Stephen was getting worse because his son’s behavior was becoming more dangerous and unreliable.
Peat’s life fell apart as his mental health and drug abuse got worse.
In 2015, Peat’s family home burned down because he forgot to watch over a blowtorch, which was one of the most shocking events in his life after hockey. Because of the fire, Peat admitted to setting it and was put on probation for a year. This was a sharp reminder of how far the once-promising player had dropped since his time in the NHL.
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Stephen’s father felt useless as his son’s mental and physical health got worse. Walter admitted, “It saddens me to seem helpless since Stephen has accused me of meddling in his business.” This is a haunting truth that many families of former players have to live with. His father and brothers were always scared because they didn’t know how to stop him from going down the rabbit hole.
The NHL Alumni Association is heartbroken to learn that Stephen Peat has passed away from his injuries after a tragic accident just over two weeks ago. He was only 44 years old.
— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) September 12, 2024
Stephen was drafted 32nd overall by the @AnaheimDucks in 1998. In 2000, he was traded to the… pic.twitter.com/sjbWx3VuV2
Stephen Peat used to have a lot of hope in his life. The Mighty Ducks picked him in the second round of the 1998 draft. From 2001 to 2005, he played 130 games for the Capitals. Fans remember him as a brave player who looked out for his friends, but his problems after hockey show how hard life can be for many enforcers.
The NHL Alumni Association announced that Peat’s organs would be donated after he died. This was a kind act that sheds light on the guy behind the headlines. It is sobering to think about how his sad story shows the secret harm that professional sports can do to their players.