Family of Bob Murdoch says Stanley Cup winner suffered from CTE

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Canadian Press

Joshua Clipperton

Printed Mar 28, 2024  •  Final up to date 0 minutes in the past  •  3 minute learn

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The household of Bob Murdoch says the two-time Stanley Cup champion suffered from power traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive and deadly illness related to repeated traumatic mind accidents.

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The Concussion Legacy Basis stated in a press release Wednesday that Boston College CTE Middle researchers made the analysis after Murdoch died in August at age 76.

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The inspiration added Murdoch’s widow, Bev, launched the findings to boost consciousness across the long-term results of repetitive blows to the pinnacle in hockey.

The mind examine discovered Murdoch, who was additionally the NHL’s coach of the 12 months in 1989-90 with the Winnipeg Jets, suffered from stage 3 CTE on the time of his demise.

Murdoch is the newest ex-NHLer to be identified posthumously with the illness, which may’t be confirmed whereas an individual is alive. Medical doctors can, nonetheless, establish suspected instances based mostly on signs and neurological exams.

Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon died by suicide final week at age 52. His household stated in a press release it “strongly believes” CTE was guilty. The NHL has repeatedly disputed any hyperlinks between hockey and CTE, together with on the league’s current normal managers’ conferences in Florida.

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Murdoch performed for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings and Atlanta/Calgary Flames over 12 seasons from 1970-82, registering 60 objectives and 278 factors.

The defenceman from Kirkland Lake, Ont., gained the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1971 and 1973.

“This analysis was not a shock,” Bev Murdoch, Bob’s spouse of 37 years, stated within the assertion offered by the Concussion Legacy Basis. “He knew, all of us knew, intuitively what brought on his struggling. A lot extra must be performed in skilled hockey to acknowledge and stop CTE.

“If not, there shall be extra folks like Bob who will lose a few years of their lives.”

The inspiration stated 16 of 17 NHL gamers studied in the US and Canada have now been identified with CTE, together with Murdoch’s former Montreal teammates Ralph Backstrom and Henri Richard, in addition to Stan Mikita, Bob Probert and Steve Montador.

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Murdoch was an assistant with the Flames earlier than teaching the Chicago Blackhawks (1987-88) and authentic Jets (1989-91). He gained the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the 12 months in 1989-90 after Winnipeg improved by 11 wins and 21 factors.

The household stated Murdoch started to expertise delicate cognitive impairment in 2015 earlier than being identified with Lewy Physique Dementia, Parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s illness in 2019. Murdoch suspected CTE was contributing to his signs and made the choice to donate his mind to Boston College after his demise, the Concussion Legacy Basis stated.

“It’s not solely the athletes who are suffering,” Bev Murdoch stated. “This illness causes such a big influence on the household, particularly the spouses who turn out to be caregivers. For seven years, I watched the love of my life disappear.”

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The Concussion Legacy Basis stated researchers are finding out whether or not CTE will increase the chance of growing extra mind ailments later in life.

“I’m upset that the NHL nonetheless refuses to acknowledge a transparent causal relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE,” Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston College CTE Middle and UNITE Mind Financial institution, stated within the assertion.

“I want (NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) might see the harm these brains endure and the ache this illness causes households.”

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