A Matter of Inches : Clint Malarchuk’s Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness
A Matter of Inches : Clint Malarchuk’s Lifelong Battle With Mental Illness By Brian DAmbrosio Besieged throughout his life by dread, anxiety, insecurity, resentment, depression, suicidal thoughts and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Clint Malarchuk reached the NHL and played parts of 11 seasons. Hockey was his escape. As a boy, Malarchuk faced such deep anxiety that he missed school and was eventually hospitalized. His father was an alcoholic who would smash dishes on the floor and throw plates across the room in the middle of dinner. His mother would try to keep him away from the violent outbursts, but it was impossible when dad came home drunk. His diagnosed OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) affected the way he trained, and he was known for maintaining one of the most obsessive fitness regimens among NHL players. His depression intensified after a horrific on-ice accident nearly claimed his life. On March 26, 1989, Malarchuk’s jugular... Read More