Calgary Flames star forward Jonathan Huberdeau has pledged to donate his brain to Project Enlist Canada for brain injury research.
Posted at 1:20 p.m.
Former astronaut Marc Garneau, former hockey player Kalley Armstrong and retired Major General Denis Thompson also joined 170 Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans in this commitment, Project Enlist Canada announced in a statement. Monday.
“As an NHL player, I am very aware of the impact of traumatic brain injury, concussions and the link to other mental health issues,” Huberdeau said in a statement Monday.
I am proud to support Canadian military veterans by pledging to donate my brain to Project Enlist and support research to improve the quality of life for all service members who have so bravely and courageously served our country.
Jonathan Huberdeau
Huberdeau, 29, was traded to the Flames last month in a trade that sent Matthew Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers.
The Saint-Jérôme hockey player had his best season in 2021-22, setting an NHL record for a left winger with 85 assists. His 115 points helped the Panthers win the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time.
Claimed by the Panthers with the third pick in the 2011 draft, Huberdeau has amassed 613 points (198 goals, 415 assists) in 671 regular season games. He has 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 26 playoff games.
Project Enlist Canada’s program studies traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans to better treat and diagnose these injuries.
Ben Lovejoy was the first active NHL player to pledge his brain donation in 2017. The 38-year-old hasn’t played in the league since 2019.
Former players Daniel Carcillo, Jeff Parker, J.T. Brown and Craig Adams are among those who have donated their brains for research.