Autopsy Shows Steve Montador Had CTE, Family To Sue NHL

By Lisa White in News on May 12, 2015 9:15PM

Photo credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

An autopsy of former NHL defenseman Steve Montador's brain shows that he had "widespread presences of CTE," a progressive degenerative disease of the brain that is found in athletes and individuals with a history of repetitive brain trauma. The Canadian Sports Concussion Project at Toronto's Krembil Neuroscience Center released this information in a statement today.

Montador's brain was donated to the Sports Concussion Project, which, according to the Tribune, has analyzed the brains of 16 athletes, with roughly half showing signs of CTE or other neurodegenerative diseases. Montador had multiple concussions during his NHL career. He played for six different NHL teams, most recently the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2011-12 season. Montador also suffered from depression, erratic behavior and memory problems prior to his death this past February. The former Blackhawk was found dead at his home in Mississaugua, Ontario. He was 35.

The Tribune also reports that Montador's family will file a lawsuit against the NHL due to the findings from the autopsy.