When he’s on the ice, Rich Clune’s job is to frustrate and physically intimidate the opposition. Off the ice, however, the former Nashville Predators winger is looking to inspire those dealing with substance abuse issues.
Clune recently opened up about his history of drug and alcohol addiction in an op-ed written for The Players’ Tribune.
“I used to get home from hockey practice and start drinking at lunch,” Clune wrote. “From the time I was playing junior hockey for the Sarnia Sting to my first year in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, I would start drinking the second I woke up on my days off. I smoked marijuana every single day. By the time I was 19 years old, I was using cocaine weekly.”
Clune, who spent four years in the Ontario Hockey League from 2003-07, says his troubles began as a teen. He said his vices were a way for him to cope with the many pressures associated with playing hockey at a high level.
He explained that in his first year of junior he “lived in a constant state of fear” and added that junior teammate Daniel Carcillo helped him through some rough patches and made sure none of their teammates hazed him.
“Carcillo stuck up for me for some reason and made sure the older guys didn’t mess with me too bad. I’ll always love him for that,” Clune said.
Coincidentally, Carcillo also wrote about addiction in The Players’ Tribune earlier this year.
Clune writes that he has been sober for five years, but that the road to sobriety was neither a short nor easy one.
“Between the ages of 15-24, I was not here. I was checked out. I did not exist. Rich Clune the pro hockey player existed. He got in over 150 fights and drove drunk and chased women and laughed and cried and lived in oblivion. But Rich Clune, the kid who loved art and film and read books and thought deeply about life, that guy was just not around. He couldn’t cope with the pressure.
“Then one day, he woke up. I wish I could tell you it was when [then] L.A. Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall pulled me aside and said, point blank, “Rich, do you want me to get you some help?” I wish it was when my parents begged me for the millionth time. But it wasn’t like a movie. One day, I just woke up and had enough.”
Clune only played one game with the Predators last season, but racked up 17 points and 181 penalty minutes with the Milwaukee Admirals. He cleared unconditional waivers and was bought out by the Predators last week.
More from Clune:
“We have lost too many of them over the years to the darkness of depression and drug abuse and alcoholism. Steve Montador. Rick Rypien. Derek Boogaard. Wade Belak. And on and on. I knew a lot of those guys. I fought a lot of those guys. A lot of them were the nicest guys you’d ever meet.
“There are probably hundreds of hockey players who will read this — in high school, Juniors, college, the minors, or the NHL — who are drinking every single day to suppress a certain kind of fear. If you are one of those people, nothing I say will convince you to seek help. But just know this, from someone who has been to hell and back: I have been sober now for five years. I can honestly say that there’s not a single player in an NHL locker room or anywhere else who has had a problem with me not drinking, or who has treated me any differently.
If you’re reading this and think you might have a problem, do not be ashamed. Reach out to a friend or a teammate, or find a professional who can help. If I can ask for help, so can you.”
