24-year-old player retires due to concussions

The concussion crisis isn't only an NFL problem, hockey players are at high risks too. Star player Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers retired in the prime of his career and linebacker Chris Borland retired after only one season in the league earlier this year. Now, an NHL player is forced to do the same thing and he is not the first. Patrick Wey, a 24-year-old defenseman for the Washington Capitals, has decided to hang his skates according to Capitals' website writer Mike vogel.  

In wake of back to back concussions, Patrick Wey has elected to retire and pursue educational interests. Great kid, wish him the best. #Caps

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 29, 2015

  Wey's first concussion came after a fight with Nasville Predators' Rich Clune on March 30 2014. According to NBCSN, the Capitals weren't happy an experience fighter like Clune took on a young player.

They had a little tangle before the fight and they were talking to each other a bit and Weysie seemed to be a willing combatant,”Troy Brouwer said at the time. “But at the same point guys who are known to be fighters, they have to have enough respect to pick their spots to know when guys are able to fight fighters.”

He had a second concussion on October 24 last season and never got back. The Boston College Alumni only played in nine NHL games before calling it a career. He was a Capitals' fourth round pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Other young players like Marc-André Bourdon and Guillaume Latendresse had to retire at a young age due to concussions in the past few years. Image courtesy of Keystone Press Agency