Its a great story, but its never over, and Kass is one of the lucky ones so far. Theres certainly a lot of people that never turn it around. As much as its a great positive story I fear that too many hockey kids can look at stuff like this and wonder whether they can taste the party life and still keep it all on track. Its not the 80's anymore. If you're doing this stuff in pro hockey you get outed. Its Not 80's Oilers anymore snorting line rushes..
Not to be negative, but a story like this should be counterbalanced by a story like this, for any young readers that think they can have a pro career and have lifestyle issues as well. It rarely works out well.
https://thehockeywriters.com/spinning-out-of-control-the-short-violent-life-of-spinner-spencer/
Every drafted young player should know about this cautionary story. jmo.
Even in the Kassian article the complete non awareness of the risks of bad lifestyle choices is shocking in the world of hockey where historically so often they have destroyed lives and careers. Substance abuse issues should be better communicated within the hockey world.
I can't help but mention Joe Murphy in this either. You all know that story.
Zach is one lucky sod, but I hope he continues with sobriety and knows fully how close he was to the brink. The reality is if the Oilers didn't call what would life have been like?
The Montreal part of the story is telling, and most people don't get that gold standard second and third chances.
Lastly, the very strange and odd thing is that both Zach and Spinner Spencer got their ticket to the NHL, in the first place, on having that kind of bent out of shape edge, that anger, that pain that makes it so easy to be hockey enforcers. That feeling that you like hitting somebody and its not terrible you're getting paid for it. That seems to equip you for it. Double edged sword to all that have it. The challenge for Kass was how to still play on nhl ice, still have that edge without all the angst that got that ball rolling.
Now people can assess me a 5 minute major for writing this..