Former minor league hockey player posthumously diagnosed with CTE

Former minor-league hockey player Tyler Amburgey was 29 when he died of COVID-19 in August of 2020. Shortly after his death, he was posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a brain disease related to repetitive brain trauma in contact sports.

This was all told to TSN in an interview with his widow, Aimee Eigenberger, who also stated that he was dealing with anxiety, depression, and other symptoms as well because of post-concussion syndrome for years before his death.

«He got a temper and wasn't sleeping,» Eigenberger said in a phone interview with TSN. «He'd be up for days on end and had anxiety. Tyler knew something was going on. He told me, 'I can feel something wrong in my brain.'»

Eigenberger said Amburgey seemed to become a different person with every concussion he suffered.

«He had numerous concussions playing hockey,» she said. «His behaviour changed. His anger was like a light switch. He'd fly off the handle over nothing, like if I asked him to mow the lawn. He'd go into our bedroom, sit on the bed, and just stare at the wall. And he was on so many medications. He was on meds to treat side effects from other meds. He was on OxyContin and Xanax and muscle relaxers. One neurologist had him on three or four different brain meds. There were days he would just cry if he forgot something or if he was late for something. And he was not a crier.»

Amburgey wanted his brain to be donated to science, and doctors at Boston University revealed the news to Eigenberger, that her deceased loved one did in fact have CTE. The extent of the CTE has not been reported as a written document has not been released.

The former minor league defenseman had quite the hockey career, as he played on the U.S. Under-18 national team and proceeded to play seven professional seasons with teams in the USHL, CHL, and SPHL.

CTE is a topic that is talked about heavily in major sports, but it is just as serious at the minor league levels. Chief executive of the Boston-based Concussion Legacy Foundation, Chris Nowinski, has done extensive research backing up this topic.

«There's no question CTE is also a problem for minor-league athletes,» Nowinski said. «That's concerning because they don't have the same support systems as major-league athletes to help them if they do develop neurological disorders. Also, there are far more minor-league hockey players who never made it to the NHL than there are NHL players, and we don't have any idea how many of the minor-league players are dealing with problems like this.»

Amburgey last played in 2015-16 with the Pensacola Ice Flyers, before trying to work an office job, but it did not work for him.

«My advice to other hockey wives is to watch for signs and symptoms and do something,» she said. «Take them seriously. Once it goes too far, you don't know how dark it is.»

tsn.ca

MUST READ

42 minutes ago  |  By Julien Trekker Longtime NHL Referee Mike Hasenfratz Tragically Passes Away at the Age of 58

1 hour ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch NHL Hopeful Colin Brown Critically Injured in St. Louis Shooting: Community Rallies

4 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Don Cherry Brutally Calls Out Darnell Nurse for Actions Leading to Ryan Reaves' Suspension

4 hours ago  |  By Tyler Ball Columbus Blue Jackets Linked in Trade to 75-Point Scorer by NHL Writer

16 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Unforeseen Events Nearly Force Toronto Maple Leafs vs Utah Hockey Club Game to be Postponed

18 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks NHL Department of Player Safety Makes Official Ruling On Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes

19 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Canadian Team Unexpectedly Places 6-Foot-3 Enforcer on the NHL Waiver Wire

20 hours ago  |  By Aaron Itovitch Elliotte Friedman Hints at Trade of 30 Million Dollar Defenseman to Canadian Team

MORE STORIES