NHL players who have grew up with adversity?

[WatchfulElm]

Donald Brashear. From Wikipedia :

His father was an alcoholic who relentlessly abused his family, including slashing Donald with belts and electrical cords. On one occasion, when Donald was only six months old, he picked him up and hurled him through a window.[2] Nicole, afraid that Johnny might kill her, left the family and returned to Canada. Later, she came back to take the children, but left Donald to live with his father for another four years,[2] until Donald's paternal grandmother sent him to Canada.[3] Donald's mother later stated that she left him behind because her future husband was prejudiced and wanted to avoid having another mixed-race child in the house.[2]
Brashear eventually moved in with his mother and stepfather in Lorretteville, Quebec. Unfortunately, because of his stepfather's racist attitude, he suffered further abuse in his new surroundings; for instance, he was forced to sleep with a garbage bag tied around his waist to keep him from wetting the bed, and was verbally berated for not being able to tie his shoes.[2] His mother finally decided to give him up to foster care, due in part because of what she called "mental problems" from the abuse he had suffered, and because he did not accept her as his mother.[2] Brashear lived in two different foster homes that sent him away since the families believed he was a "little too much to handle."[3

 

[sr edler]

What are the stories with Datsyuk and Kuznetsov?

Kuznetsov's older brother was stabbed to death when Evgeny was 10 years old.

 

[Your old Jofa helmet]

To me Jordin Tootoo's life growing up, seems way more miserable and hard than some dudes who lived in a big city hood and were petty criminals. And what he achieved is way more significant

 

[Asinine]

I think adversity comes in all forms. It's not tied to money necessarily. Money just changes the forms of adversity people face. And each person handles it differently.

Good comment. Anyone whose ever been around the AAA scene knows how absolutely nuts these kids parents can be and the amount of pressure that gets put on them. I've seen it as young as 6-7 years old. It's borderline abuse. This kind of stuff happens all.the.time.

These comments in this thread about "hur dur white rich man sport no adversity hur dur" are inane.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Donald Brashear. From Wikipedia :

Wow, that is some messed up shit. Just horrible.

 

[Boud]

Donald Brashear. From Wikipedia :

This is absolutely outrageous.

Crazy story. Miracle he was able to become what he became.

 

[Satire]

Donald Brashear. From Wikipedia :

As a father I can't even begin to comprehend doing this to my own child. Parents are supposed to be your safe haven... Absolutely heart breaking.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Why are we trying to make this some sort of contest? Everyone experiences adversity.

 

[Petey O]

Why are we trying to make this some sort of contest? Everyone experiences adversity.

Yeah. Just because you're rich, and white (not sure why so many people are bringing up race here, but apparently it's allowed in this case for some reason) doesn't mean you don't struggle through things.

Sure, maybe they didn't live in fear of getting shot up by a drive by or mugged outside of their homes, but there are many other struggles people can face. In the mind especially.

They all had to work hard and many struggled through cuts/rejection/being told they're not good enough to get to the best league in the world, too, I'm sure.

 

[Sol]

Good comment. Anyone whose ever been around the AAA scene knows how absolutely nuts these kids parents can be and the amount of pressure that gets put on them. I've seen it as young as 6-7 years old. It's borderline abuse. This kind of stuff happens all.the.time.

These comments in this thread about "hur dur white rich man sport no adversity hur dur" are inane.

Yeah it's just not based in reality. Some of the most disturbed people I've met are wealthy. And some of the most down to earth people who are great people aren't wealthy at all. I'm sure vice versa is true. Adversity doesn't stop with a high bank account or skin color.

 

[lawrence]

Patrick O'Sullivan as well

Oh yea man, his dad was not allowed to attend the 2003 draft.

 

[sr edler]

Some of the most disturbed people I've met are wealthy.

Yeah, growing up poor or relatively poor and you can have the greatest and most supporting parents ever. And conversely, growing up rich and you can have the most disturbed parents ever.

 

[Ned Bouhalassa]

Pastrnak grew up poor.

 

[Albatros]

The most adversarial thing about Nikolishin's upbringing was the cold of Vorkuta, which is in the Arctic. Nikolishin and the other players had to play in -40, outside, and shovel snow off the ice before even beginning, not to mention not having any kind of zamboni or anything. Somehow he developed into a great player from that beginning.

I suspect the forced labor bit is misleading folks. Vorkuta wasn't a forced labor colony (gulag) anymore when Nikolishin was born, and hadn't been for almost two decades, since the mid 50s when the gulag system ended after Stalin died. His father was initially sent there as a prisoner but stayed for other reasons, perhaps because the pay was higher in the Arctic (yes people were paid varying salaries in the Soviet Union, not all the same amount as most Americans imagine).

The camp was closed in the early 1960s, after Stalin died there was a major riot in Vorkuta, but it was suppressed by force. Most former inmates that stayed in Vorkuta after their release stayed because they couldn't go anywhere else, after imprisonment they were social outcasts and had no financial means. Many like Nikolishin's dad were also legally forbidden from leaving for 25 years, this kind of forced exile continued until the 1980s, long after Vorkuta had been converted into a city. Today the place is available in Google Street View for those that want to make a trip they otherwise never would.

 

[Eisen]

This is anecdotal so take this as you will. In my line of work I talk to all types of people and families. I've noticed the wealthier families there are the more disfunction there is within the family. Drug abuse, power struggles, expectations, a ton of mental abuse from people who hold the wealth onto their children. The more wealthy I've noticed the more and more disfunctional the family is. The more poor a family is the closer the families are in my experience because they have to rely on one another for their own well being which in my opinion creates a bond.


I think living in a poor area is physically dangerous because of the area you're in. The wealthier you are the more you're under the spotlight and deal with immense stress from disfunction in family. A lot of abandonment...


I think adversity comes in all forms. It's not tied to money necessarily. Money just changes the forms of adversity people face. And each person handles it differently.


Money doesn't stop you from facing adversity at all. Like the only thing I can think of is that living in a richer area your neighborhood is more safe. That's about it.

I'd take the "problems" coming with money much, much rather than the ones coming from poverty.

 

[Number 57]

Hockey is way too expensive so people who grow up poor/in a rough environment can't even start to play on ice let alone make the NHL.

For exemple in Quebec (and I'm sure most other areas as well) most elite players come from the suburbs or rural areas. Reason is because families settled there have money to buy a house, cars, hockey equipment, playing fees, etc. In the city is a lot of students and immigrants and families leaving in small appartments so no one can play hockey.

The players who make the NHL from Montreal are mainly from the West Island where there are families with money (Lac St.Louis region)

Perron, Huberdeau, Drouin, Bergeron, Letang, Brassard, Fleury, Marchessault, Mantha, Danault, Gourde, Dubois, etc all raised in suburbs or rural areas.

Only two I can think of (active players) who are from Montreal are Vlasic and Duclair and they are both from West Island region.

Even QMJHL is filled with players from outside Montreal even though 1/4 population lives in that city. The Midget AAA team from Montreal and Laval is usually average at best even though these are the 2 biggest regions in Quebec

 

[abo9]

This is anecdotal so take this as you will. In my line of work I talk to all types of people and families. I've noticed the wealthier families there are the more disfunction there is within the family. Drug abuse, power struggles, expectations, a ton of mental abuse from people who hold the wealth onto their children. The more wealthy I've noticed the more and more disfunctional the family is. The more poor a family is the closer the families are in my experience because they have to rely on one another for their own well being which in my opinion creates a bond.


I think living in a poor area is physically dangerous because of the area you're in. The wealthier you are the more you're under the spotlight and deal with immense stress from disfunction in family. A lot of abandonment...


I think adversity comes in all forms. It's not tied to money necessarily. Money just changes the forms of adversity people face. And each person handles it differently.


Money doesn't stop you from facing adversity at all. Like the only thing I can think of is that living in a richer area your neighborhood is more safe. That's about it.

Bolded smells strongly like confirmation bias imo. What about all the single parents, children of alcoholics/druggies, children of parents with health issues(mental and physical) who can't find work, etc etc. Messy divorces happen at every economic status...

 

[HBK27]

I'd take the "problems" coming with money much, much rather than the ones coming from poverty.

Yes, if given the choice people would rather grow up with money.

That being said, there's a lot of people in here acting like money solves everything and that kids growing up in that environment don't face any adversity or for some have really miserable childhoods. Maybe it's less likely to happen, but it sure as hell still happens.

 

[PB37]

Tim Thomas' parents sold their wedding rings so they could afford to send him to hockey camp.

David Pastrnak's dad died when he was a very young age and his mother had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

I played hockey and my family wasnt filthy rich like some people claim is the only way you can play hockey lol

Yup same here. My parents remortgaged the house more thn once in order to get me a chance at my dream. My mom just finished paying it off I believe and I’m 40. Love ya mom!

 

[GreatSaveEssensa]

Oh yea man, his dad was not allowed to attend the 2003 draft.

His dad would make him run behind the van after practise for miles if he felt Patrick didn't work hard enough. In his equipment, in the middle of winter.

 

[iamjs]

I'd contribute a few names to this list, but I don't see why it's anybody's business.

I don't think it's people looking for family secrets. I thought the vibe of the thread was to mention players who overcame a shitty situation to become a successful hockey player.

 

[oldunclehue]

What pisses me off is that there are several comments in this thread calling it a "rich white kid sport". So we are allowed to now be racist on this board?

What if we called Basketball a "poor (blank) kid sport" or soccer a "poor (blank) kid sport).

Should not be allowed either way.

Adversity is different for everyone.....I grew up playing with Travis Zajac, he came from a well-off family, but I have never seen anyone else work as hard as he did towards a goal. He skipped out on a lot of social events and put a lot of hours in at the gym etc. Might not be typical adversity, but he knew what he had to do if he wanted to make it.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

They unfortunately didn't make the NHL, but Dalton and Josh Thrower.

I believe Michael Ryder could have ended up like his brother, Dan, who might still be in jail.

I believe it was Burmistrov who wrote Datsyuk asking for equipment(or money to buy it) because his family was so poor.

I always get confused somehow, but Redden, or Phillips didn't have it easy growing up.

Bobby Stevenson

 

[Prsut18]

I think Curtis Joseph had hard times growing up too, but don't remember his exact story..