Former Rangers captain Barry Beck calls out team and NHL after Mark Pavelich's death

Former Rangers captain Barry Beck blasted the Rangers and USA hockey for the death of Mark Pavelich. He thinks they, along with the NHL, should be held "accountable" for the death of his former teammate as he battled with mental illness.

Pavelich died last Thursday at a mental health treatment facility in central Minnesota. Besides a lengthy NHL career, Pavelich was a member of the 1980 USA Olympic Team dubbed "Miracle on Ice" after winning a gold medal when everyone had counted them out against the Soviet Union. Beck is one of the people who believes that Pavelich's condition is related to head injuries suffered during his NHL career.

Beck called the NHL "cowards" for the avoidance of talking about the sport's lasting impact on the brain. In his 946 word post on Facebook, the heartbroken Beck called out team president John Davidson for not returning an email asking for the Rangers support of Mark.

"Well JD did not even return my email. I guess he was too [f—ing] busy," wrote Beck. "He should have picked up the phone and called me. That would have been the right thing to do as we were teammates and he certainly would have my back right? You're on your throne now John but if our paths ever cross you better be ready. Or maybe just turn your back again."

The Rangers declined to comment on Beck's post after releasing a statement Friday regarding their sadness of the death of Pavelich. USA hockey and the NHL sent out similar comments regarding him, but neither responded to requests for comment from Beck's post.

"The Rangers and USA hockey are accountable for Mark's death," Beck wrote. "The NHL has to grow a set of balls and take action."

Beck also called out the NHL for not talking about CTE with any players or teams across the league.

"Now not one NHL team will discuss CTE or any of their players, staff or employees," wrote the 63-year-old Beck. "After the CTE lawsuit the NHL was just happy they didn't have to discuss it anymore. They told teams under no circumstances shall any team discuss CTE the shrinkage of the brain. Not even the stick boy. They don't discuss it because they're cowards. The only thing that matters to them is money."

Beck is currently coaching in Hong Kong and stated that he was "deeply saddened, shocked and overcome with grief" after hearing about Pavelich's death. Beck's 20-year-old son, Brock, was killed in a road rage stabbing last July, so it has been a rough year for the former defenseman.

"Climbing one big mountain to overcome my son's death is a difficult task. Now I have two mountains to climb,» Beck wrote. «Well I'm ready to climb for Mark now."

Beck has since released another update on Facebook saying that since his original post, Davidson has called him and they had a good chat.

Pavelich was ordered by the court into a mental health treatment facility following a trial for assault on his former neighbour and friend. The jusdge ruled Pavelicj had become a danger to himself and others, something his family members believe was caused by CTE. You can see both the original post and the update below.

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