Why did belak hang himself

As a junior, the straw-haired kid from North Battleford, Sask. In , the year the Quebec Nordiques drafted him 12th overall, Belak stood six foot four and weighed lb. Unfortunately for Belak, the game was starting to change. Coaches turned to strategic systems emphasizing judgment and mobility that Belak lacked, and learning on the job was not an option. The following season, he fought off the effects of a shoulder injury to record penalty minutes in 40 games with the Flames, yet he remained very much on the bubble.

Only after the Toronto Maple Leafs claimed him off waivers in February did Belak make an impression of sorts in the league. By then, Belak had learned to do whatever it took to get into the lineup, moving from defence to forward if asked, beating on opponents when called upon.

When asked for his reaction, Sundin broke up laughing. It was vintage Belak, and reflected his willingness to let down his guard in ways his teammates never could. Tellingly, some of the most moving remembrances of him over the past week have come not from current players, but from the extended family of radio and TV personalities Belak had befriended and in some cases invited to his home.

Blundell was one. Did all the bonhomie mask some deep torment that led Belak to take his life? But his confidants resist the sort of tears-of-a-clown story that others seem eager to assign him. Nick Kypreos, a former enforcer with the Leafs, lived a few houses away during the seven years Belak played in Toronto. Far from suppressing his problems, says Kypreos, who now works as a hockey analyst on Rogers Sportsnet, Belak opened up to friends about his struggles with depression.

None of this is to say Belak was an open book. When the Leafs dealt him to Florida for a fifth-round draft pick in , the writing was on the wall. Florida dealt him shortly after the start of the following season to Nashville, where he played 92 goalless games over parts of three seasons before the Predators offered him a choice. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because details of the investigation were confidential.

The body of year-old Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets was discovered earlier this month at his home in Alberta after a police official said a call was answered for a "sudden and non-suspicious" death. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May at 28 due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone. I think that people are paying very, very serious attention to concussions and blows to the head and the role of the enforcer.

An outgoing personality, the six-foot-five, pound Belak often brought a comedic presence to the dressing room, trading barbs with teammates, offering his quick wit in interviews, and providing funny and entertaining quotes for reporters. He also would poke fun at himself and became a regular on Leafs TV and on morning radio in Toronto with alternative rock station The Edge I pray this all ends here," Dave Scatchard, who retired recently from the NHL because of concussion problems, posted to his Twitter account.

Fellow forward Jordin Tootoo, a former teammate of Belak's in Nashville, Tweeted that it was "very sad to loose a great teammate and a better person in Wade Belak. Belak was asked by the Star about the best thing that happened to him as a player and he answered by saying the first goal he scored in the NHL with Colorado in and his last, with Toronto, in Social Sharing.

Players on Twitter Jon Blum JonBlum7 "Wade was one of the nicest and funniest hockey players i have ever met and was able to call a teammate.

Thoughts and prayers to his family. Wade Belak RIP my friend. Great personality in the game of hockey. Heard nothing but good things about him from guys who he played with. Now Belak is gone. What a tragedy. Was a great teammate and prayers go to his friends and family.

RIP Beeker. Grew up watching him with the Leafs. Thoughts and prayers for his family and friends.