Petan still can’t process his father’s death by suicide

This one breaks your heart. When we take a look at what took place in Nic Petan’s career last season, everyone assumes the move to the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Winnipeg Jets was a stepping stone in his career. 

If only they knew what Petan has been living since the start of the 2018-19 season… 

On September 18th, 2018, Petan was told his father Franc died by suicide. He was attending the Jets’ training camp. He shut down, moved away and needed time on his own. 

“I didn’t know what to do, Petan reveals on Rick Westhead’s TSN Original in tears. “I just felt like I needed some time to process it… I still can’t process it so…”

While Petan has been given a new opportunity in Toronto, the pain of losing his father to mental illness remains fresh and painful. This past summer, he and his brother Alex raised money for the Franc Petan charity to help people with mental issues. 

Over a year later, Nic and his family opened up about their grief, while creating a legacy in Franc’s name in the TSN Original - ‘Franc’. 

It is a must watch. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association support the mental health of individuals and families in over 330 communities across Canada. On behalf of the Petan family, please donate at cmha.ca/donate.