Former Hawks player opens up on his mental problems.

Former Hawks Player Opens Up on His Mental Problems

Brent Sopel has been drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 1995 (144th overall). He played three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2007 to 2010. The former defenseman recently signed a very deep paper about the "mental problems" he carries since his young age.

“Have you ever had that feeling of wanting to be anywhere else in the world other than where you are? It burns in your mind. It’s impossible to shake. I just wanted to put on my skates and get away from everyone. I wanted to do something that made me feel a sense of accomplishment, not shame.” Wrote Sopel in The Players’ Tribune.

Brent Sopel opened up on when he was young, kids used to laugh at him because he was slower than the average in school. He was not really good at math or any kind of school work (to take his word). “I hated school. I hated homework,” he said.

Later one, he dragged his problems as far as in the NHL.

“There were the bus rides, the flights, the hotel rooms—all those times in between games when I was alone with my thoughts. For me, I hated being in my own head like that. Who wouldn’t if you had grown up questioning your mental capabilities every single day? Even achieving my dream of playing in the NHL couldn’t erase the destructive impact of not having gotten the right help when I was in school—or, to be fair, the fact that there was too little knowledge about my problems for people to know how to provide me with the proper support.” Continued Sopel.

Brent Sopel remembers one night when he was facing Bob Probert and thought he was going to die on the ice. For him, he would’ve died happy if it had to happen that night.

“I’m going to die. I’m going to die here tonight. I’m actually going to die on this ice.”