Former Rangers captain Barry Beck said the team and US hockey were “responsible” for Mark Pavelich’s death because they did not support the “Ice Miracle” star while he was battling a mental illness – possibly related to head injuries sustained over a seven-year career in the NHL – before his death on Thursday at a mental health treatment center in Minnesota.
Beck also took aim at the NHL, which he called “cowards”, hours after officials announced on Friday that his 63-year-old former teammate was found dead.
The cause of death is under investigation.
In an exciting 946 word post on Facebook, Beck heartedly criticized team president John Davidson, also a former teammate, for not returning an email asking Rangers to “publicly (sic) show their support Mark saying only one of his former players was ill and we wish him well. “
But the Post learned that Davidson had been in constant contact with former Rangers goalkeeper Glen Healy, of the NHL alumni association, in relation to Pavelich. In the Facebook post, Beck credited Healy and the alumni association for “getting involved” with Pavelich.
“Well, JD didn’t even return my email. I think he was also [f–king] busy, ”wrote Beck, a 1979-86 Rangers defender. “He should have taken the phone and called me. It would have been the right thing to do, since we were teammates, and he would certainly protect me, right?
“You are on your throne now, John, but if our paths cross, we better be ready. Or maybe just turn your back again. “
Rangers, who declined to comment on Beck’s post, said in a statement on Friday that they were “saddened” to learn of the death of Pavelich, a skilled and obstinate center who spent five seasons in the 1981-86 organization after playing a key role in the impressive gold medal of the United States in the 1980 Olympics.
US hockey and the NHL sent similar statements. Both did not immediately respond to requests for comment in light of Beck’s post.
“Rangers and hockey in the United States are responsible for Mark’s death,” said Beck. “The NHL needs to develop a set of balls and act.”
Pavelich was undergoing treatment at the facility as part of a civil pledge to assault his neighbor in Minnesota in August 2019. He was charged with assault, but was considered incompetent to stand trial because he was considered by the judge to have a mental illness and dangerous.
Beck wrote that Pavelich’s sister, Jean, believed that the native of Eveleth, Minnesota, suffered from CTE, the degenerative brain disease often found in hockey and football players that is associated with depression, memory loss and dementia and can only be diagnosed after death.
The NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman previously said that the “relationship between concussions and the declared clinical symptoms of CTE remains unknown”, even though several other deceased players have had the disease.
In 2016, the league settled a $ 18.9 million lawsuit with 302 retired players who claimed that the NHL did not protect them from head injuries or warned them of the risks involved in playing.
“Now, no NHL team will discuss CTE or any of its players, team or employees,” wrote Beck, 63, who once told the Washington Post that he experiences depression as a result of concussions suffered in hockey. “After the CTE process, the NHL was happy to no longer have to discuss the matter. They told the teams, under no circumstances, should any team discuss CTE about brain shrinkage. Not even the stick boy.
“They don’t discuss it because of their cowards. The only thing that matters to them is money. “
After Pavelich’s arrest, Beck said he “immediately contacted his sister Jean to see how I could help. I asked her, ‘Has anyone from Rangers or US hockey contacted you to offer their support?’ Nobody called and to this day nobody called. Who the hell do these people think they are?
“They better not send their condolences now because they missed the boat,” continued Beck. “If they do, I will chew them from end to end.”
“In hockey in the USA, you can play them in the same boat as the Rangers,” wrote Beck. I wouldn’t answer to help Mark. ONE [f–king] American hero !! You stupid MF’S!
Beck said he was “deeply saddened, shocked and overwhelmed by pain” upon learning of Pavelich’s death.
He said the two talked recently, adding that Pavelich was there to support him after Beck’s son Brock was killed in July in Hamilton, Canada.
“Climbing a big mountain to overcome my son’s death is a difficult task. I now have two mountains to climb, ”said Beck. “Well, I’m ready to climb for Mark now.”