A former NHL player’s fatal accident while driving under the influence exposed deep flaws in hockey’s culture of silence around substance abuse, according to new reporting. Investigators found the athlete had been struggling with addiction for years but faced little intervention from teammates or league officials due to long-standing norms of secrecy. The tragedy prompted calls for systemic change, though resistance from traditionalists has slowed progress in addressing mental health and addiction within professional hockey. The piece examines how one athlete’s death became a turning point—and why the sport’s culture remains resistant to meaningful reform.

How Adam Johnson’s horrific death three years ago shook ‘stubborn’ hockey culture  Star Tribune