Wade Belak third NHL tough guy to die this year
(NEWSER) - A trio of deaths has put the spotlight on the role of tough guys in hockey like never before. Recently retired player Wade Belak was found hanged in a hotel room this week. His death follows that of Rick Rypien, who died in apparent suicide last month, and New York Rangers star Derek Boogard—widely considered the NHL's most feared player— who died in May from what was determined to be an accidental overdose. Between them, the trio scored just 20 goals in 945 games but racked up more than 2,000 penalty minutes, and the deaths have sparked debate about the role of fighting in hockey and the toll it takes on enforcers, the New York Times finds. More»
