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Bettman And Daly Disrespect Family After Passing Of Former NHL Player

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Austin Sabourin
March 20, 2024  (1:56 PM)
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The devastating news of former NHL player Chris Simon's passing at the age of 52 shook the hockey community on Tuesday.

His family disclosed that Simon died by suicide and attributed his struggles to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition linked to repetitive head trauma.

«The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death,» the statement, provided by Simon's former agent, Paul Theofanous, on behalf of Simon's family, read.
«We are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend. The entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief. We will not be releasing any further details at this time and ask for privacy during this very difficult time. We appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss.»

Despite the family's poignant statement, NHL officials, including commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly, offered dismissive responses to questions regarding the league's stance on CTE.

Asked Bill Daly whether the #NHL's viewpoint has changed with additional medical studies that show a definitive link between CTE and repeated blows to the head.
«No,» Daly said. «I think the science is still lacking.»

Simon's family firmly believes he suffered from CTE, evident in his documented symptoms and struggles with anxiety and depression. Throughout his career, Simon amassed 1,824 penalty minutes and 305 points in 864 games, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

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