Born in Ontario, Canada, Eric Lindros has always felt at home on the ice. Spanning a long career playing hockey, Lindros played for such teams as the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars.
Standing at 6 ft. 4 in., Lindros could stand up to most anyone on the ice; however, a long span of injuries suffered while playing hockey caused Lindros to miss significant playtime and to question not only his physical health, but also his mental health. Lindros came to fear that the multiple concussions sustained while playing hockey would change the direction his life was taking.
Lindros believed the relentless concussions were causing him to become highly aggressive and to lose his sense of self — symptoms commonly associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Depression, marital strife, as well as suicidal thoughts plagued his mind as a result of the multiple head injuries. Currently, Lindros is a compelling advocate who strongly encourages anyone with traumatic brain injuries or CTE-related symptoms to get essential treatment.
Currently, Lindros is a compelling advocate who strongly encourages anyone with traumatic brain injuries or CTE-related symptoms to get essential treatment. While the study and research of CTE is still ongoing, it is important to acknowledge the condition so that future hockey players may enjoy a bright future beyond their career.