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Former Blackhawk Daniel Carcillo pledges to donate his brain to Carrick Institute

He wants his brain “to be used for study and furthering understanding of the consequences of traumatic brain injury.”

By Brandon M. Cain and Dave Melton
Calgary Flames v Chicago Blackhawks Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Former Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo wants to have a lastly impact on the game of hockey and its safety. That’s why he announced Wednesday on Twitter that he’ll donate his brain “to be used for study and furthering understanding of the consequences of traumatic brain injury” when he dies.

Carcillo racked up 1,233 penalty minutes and was fined or suspended 12 times during his nine-year career, but he’s become an outspoken advocate for concussion research and brain safety since he retired in 2015.

Carcillo set up the Chapter 5 Foundation, which is dedicated to helping players who are struggling with post-concussion syndrome, anxiety or depression. He started the organization after the unexpected death of Steve Montador, a close friend and former teammate, who died in February 2015 after experiencing significant mental health issues following a concussion-laden NHL career. Montador was later diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain condition that has been linked with repetitive head trauma in boxing, football and hockey.

Along with Chapter 5, Carcillo — a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Chicago in 2013 and ‘15 — has advocated for better treatment of retired NHL players along with more awareness for what the league can do to help combat this issue with its active players.