Former Rangers captain Barry Beck said the team and American hockey were “responsible” for Mark Pavelich’s death because they did not support the “Miracle on Ice” star while battling illness. mental, possibly related to head injuries suffered for seven years Career in the NHL: before spending Thursday at a mental health treatment center in Minnesota.
Beck also signed up for the NHL, which he described as “cowards,” hours after officials announced Friday that his former teammate, 63, was found dead.
The cause of death is being investigated.
In a blunt 946-word Facebook post, a heartbroken Beck blasted team president John Davidson, also a former teammate, for failing to return an email asking the Rangers to “publicly (sic ) show their support for Mark just by saying one of his ex-players was sick and we wish him well ”.
But The Post learned that Davidson had been in constant contact with Glen Healy, former Rangers director of the NHL alumni association, about Pavelich. In the Facebook post, Beck credited Healy and the alumni association for being “involved” with Pavelich.
“Well, JD didn’t even return my email. I guess he was too [f–king] busy, ”wrote Beck, a Rangers defender from 1979 to 1986.“ I should have picked up the phone and called me. That would have been right, as we were teammates and sure he would have his back, right?
“You’re on your throne now, John, but if our paths ever cross, you better be ready. Or maybe just turn your back.”
The Rangers, who declined to comment on Beck’s post, said in a statement Friday that they were “saddened” to learn of the transfer of Pavelich, a skilled and expert center who spent five seasons with the organization since 1981-86 after playing a key role in the stunning U.S. gold medal victory at the 1980 Olympics.
American hockey and the NHL sent similar statements. Both did not immediately respond to requests for comment in light of Beck’s post.
“The U.S. Rangers and hockey are responsible for Marks’ death, ”Beck said. “The NHL has to grow a set of balls and take action.”
Pavelich was being treated at the facility as part of a civil pledge to assault his neighbor in Minnesota in August 2019. He was charged with assault, but found himself incompetent for to stand trial because the judge considered him to have a mental and dangerous illness.
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 soccer players that is associated with depression, memory loss, and dementia and that can only be diagnosed after death.
The NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman have previously said that the “relationship between concussions and the stated clinical symptoms of CTE remains unknown,” even as it was found that several deceased players had had the disease.
In 2016, the league agreed to a $ 18.9 million lawsuit with 302 retired players claiming the NHL did not protect them from head injuries or warn them of the risks involved in playing.
“Now no NHL team will discuss CTE or any of its players, staff or employees,” wrote Beck, 63, who told the Washington Post that he experiences depression as a result of concussions that occur in hockey. . “After the CTE lawsuit, the NHL was happy not to have discussed it further. They told the teams that in no case will any team discuss CTE’s brain reduction. Not even the stick guy.
“They do not argue because they are cowards. The only thing they care about is money. ”
After Pavelich’s arrest, Beck said he “immediately contacted his sister Jean to see how he could help me. I asked him,” Someone from the Rangers or U.S. hockey has gotten involved. contact you to offer your support? “No one called and hasn’t called yet. Who are the people you think these people are?
“It’s best that they don’t present their condolences now because they lost the boat,” Beck continued. “If they do, I’ll chew them from end to end.”
“With American hockey you can throw them on the same boat as the Rangers,” Beck wrote. I wouldn’t respond to help Mark. A [f–king] American hero !! You stupid MF’S!
Beck said he was “deeply saddened, shocked and overwhelmed by the pain” upon learning of Pavelich’s death.
He said the two had recently spoken, adding that Pavelich was there for him after Beck’s son Brock was killed in July in Hamilton, Canada.
“Climbing a big mountain to overcome the death of my children is a difficult task. Now I have two mountains to climb, ”said Beck. “Well, now I’m ready to get on Mark.”