Former NHL Enforcer Stephen Peat Dead At 44

Former NHL enforcer Stephen Peat has died at the age of 44 from injuries sustained after being struck by a car more than two weeks prior, the league announced in a statement shared on its NHL Alumni X account Thursday (September 13).

"The NHL Alumni Association is heartbroken to learn that Stephen Peat has passed away from his injuries after a tragic accident just over two weeks ago. He was only 44 years old," the post stated.

Peat was selected by the Anaheim Ducks at No. 32 overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft before being traded to the Washington Capitals, with whom he'd appear in 130 regular-season games during four seasons. The British Columbia native scored 10 points in the NHL and concluded his pro career in the AHL during the 2006-07 season.

Peat was struck by a car in Langley, British Columbia, at 4:15 a.m. on August 30, the Province reported.

"In the wake of this tragic accident, Stephen will be helping to save numerous lives through organ donation. We send our deepest condolences to Stephen’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time," the NHL Alumni account added.

Peat was outspoken about his concerns over his mental health, suspecting concussions he suffered playing hockey made him prone to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a June 2016 New York Times feature story.

“I’m a right-handed fighter, right?” Peat said in the article. “And all the blows were to the left side of my head. That’s where all my pain is. So that’s my uneducated guess. What other blows have I taken?”

Peat said he began suffering headaches about a year or two after his final NHL appearance in 2006.

“I can’t sleep on my right side,” Peat added in the article. “If I do, it feels like someone who weighs 200 pounds is standing on my face, right here.”