Gold medalist goalie commits suicide at just 41 years old

Heavy news have been reported on Tuesday as former Czech national team goaltender Adam Svoboda passed away today. 

Fans sharing the news also tagged mental illness advocate Ben Meisner, New York Islanders goalie Robin Lehner and former NHL player Dan Carcillo, seeing that Svoboda committed suicide at just 41 years old. 

Lehner commented at the start of the season on his mental illness and the moment he decided to reach out for help when he considered suicide. Ever since he got sober, a little over a year ago, Lehner has been a great role model for players and people in distress. Carcillo is a very vocal advocate on helping players who have suffered head traumas and concussions. 

Here is the statement from the International Ice Hockey Federation on Svoboda’s passing: 

According to information published by the police he committed suicide. His body was found dead at his residence in the Pardubice region without any outside influence.

Svoboda played 21 years of professional ice hockey, mostly in his country for Sparta Prague, Pardubice, Slavia Prague, Plzen and Hradec Kralove in the top league as well as stints in Germany (Nuremberg), Russia (Togliatti, Omsk), Sweden (Timra) and in his last season 2016/2017 in Kazakhstan for Beibarys Atyrau. With Slavia Prague in 2008 and with Plzen in 2013 he won two Czech championships.

Internationally he represented the Czechs at two World Junior Championships and one U18 European Championship. He played for the men’s national team for many years and had 41 international games but didn’t play a game in the four World Championships he was on the roster including the gold-winning team in 2005.

This season he worked as goaltending coach for his former club team Dynamo Pardubice and earlier with the Czech Ice Hockey Association.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends, family, team and fans.