Former Rangers captain Barry Beck said the team and American hockey were “responsible” for the death of Mark Pavelich because they did not support the star “Miracle on Ice” as he fought mental illness – possibly too due to head injuries sustained during a seven-year period. NHL career – before she leaves Thursday in a mental health treatment facility in Minnesota.
Beck also targeted the NHL, which he called “cowards,” hours after officials announced Friday that his 63-year-old former teammate had been found dead.
The cause of death is being investigated.
A heartbreaking Beck president of the team, John Davidson, also a former teammate, blew up a 946-word Facebook message for failing to return an email asking the Rangers to ‘public (sic ) show their support to Mark by saying only one of their own. former players were ill and we wish him well. ”
But The Post understands that Davidson was in constant contact with former Rangers nether Glen Healy of the NHL alumni association regarding Pavelich. In the Facebook post, Beck credited Healy and the alumni association for getting ‘involved’ with Pavelich.
‘Well, JD did not even return my email. I think he was too [f–king] busy, ”wrote Beck, a 1979-86 Rangers defender. “He should have picked up the phone and called me. That would have been the right thing to do, since we were teammates, and he certainly would not have my back?
‘You are now on your throne, but if our paths ever cross, you must be ready. Or maybe just turn your back again. ”
The Rangers, who declined to comment on Beck’s message, said in a statement on Friday that they were “saddened” by the death of Pavelich, a hard-working, capable center who spent five seasons with the organization since 1981. to 86 after playing. played a key role in the United States’ beautiful gold medal victory at the 1980 Olympics.
American hockey and the NHL have issued similar statements. Both did not immediately respond to requests for comment in light of Beck’s message.
“The Rangers and American hockey are responsible for the deaths of Marks,” Beck said. “The NHL needs to grow a set of balls and act.”
Pavelich was treated at the plant in August 2019 as part of a civil commitment to assault his neighbor in Minnesota in August 2019. He was charged with assault but was found incompetent to stand trial because he was considered by the judge. becomes as a mental illness and dangerous.
Beck wrote that Pavelich’s sister, Jean, believes that the native of Eveleth, Minnesota, suffered from CTE, the degenerative brain disease that often occurs in hockey and soccer players, which is associated with depression, memory loss and dementia and that only after the death can be diagnosed.
NHL and Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier that “the link between concussion and the alleged clinical symptoms of CTE remains unknown,” even though several other deceased players were found to have the disease.
In 2016, the league filed a $ 18.9 million lawsuit with 302 retired players claiming the NHL did not protect them from head injuries or warned them about the risks involved in playing.
“No NHL team will discuss CTE or any of their players, staff or employees,” wrote the 63-year-old Beck, who once told the Washington Post that he was experiencing depression due to concussion suffered in hockey. . ‘After the CTE lawsuit, the NHL was just glad they didn’t have to discuss it anymore. They told teams under no circumstances that any team would discuss the shrinkage of the brain over CTE. Not even the stick boy.
“They do not discuss it because they are cowards. The only thing that matters to them is money. ”
After Pavelich’s arrest, Beck said he ‘immediately contacted his sister Jean to see how I could help. I asked her ‘did anyone from the Rangers or American hockey still contact you to offer their support?’ No one called and to this day no one has called. Who do the people think they are?
“They’d rather not send their condolences now because they missed the boat,” Beck continued. “If they do, I chew them from one side to the other.”
“U.S. hockey, you can throw it in the same boat as the Rangers,” Beck wrote. Will not respond to help Mark. A [f–king] American hero !! Your stupid MF’S!
Beck said he was ‘deeply saddened, shocked and overwhelmed with grief’ when he heard of Pavelich’s death.
He said the two spoke recently, adding that Pavelich was there for him after Beck’s son, Brock, was killed in Hamilton, Canada, in July.
“Climbing a big mountain to overcome my sons’ deaths is a difficult task. “Now I have two mountains to climb,” Beck said. “Well, I’m ready to climb for Mark now.”