Theo Fleury - From Sexual Abuse to Redemption - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

james t kirk · 10-19-2009, 04:44 PM

The Fall and Rise of Theo Fleury | CBC News: the fifth estate

Caught this the other night on the Fifth Estate. Very well done documentary about sexual abuse of young hockey players and the impact it had on their lives as told by Theo Fleury (former NHL All-star and Captain of the Calgary Flames).

I can only hope that Fleury finds it within himself to keep his demons under his control.

Baraka_Guru · 10-19-2009, 05:56 PM

I heard about this recently.

I know Sheldon Kennedy's story quite well. He's a very nice guy, actually. So it's a shame if people only know him for his history of on-ice and off-ice antics.

While Fleury was playing, I was a huge fan of his, so it struck me when I heard about this.

I can't even imagine the torment these survivors go through daily. I wish them both strength, and commend them immensely for the courage to tell their stories.

And to think that Graham James actually was (or is) coaching youth hockey in Europe after his release from prison....

james t kirk · 10-19-2009, 06:21 PM

Sheldon Kennedy is actually the unsung hero in all of this. He was the one who summoned the bravery to lay charges against his abuser.

I can understand why Fleury did not want to come forward when he was playing. I'm sure that the NHL is an extremely macho organization and Fleury did not want to face the suggestion that he might have somehow been a homosexual. Now, at the point he is at, I can only guess that the reason that he has not charged his former coach is that he doens't want to relive all of that. If that's his decision, then I have to respect it.

In watching the video and you see the photos of Kennedy and Fleury as youngsters playing hockey you can't help but be struck by how incredibly young they were to have faced such abuse.

You read about it, you hear about it, but when you see the pictures and you hear the stories, it breaks your heart.

Leto · 10-27-2009, 05:59 AM

I'm impressed with Fleury's composure in all the publicity that's been generated around this. The whole issue makes me wonder how many more times this kind of abuse is going to be played out. As a hockey parent I try to keep a close eye on the coaches and the team dynamics. For the most part, I think that there are controls in place to prevent, at least at the house league and select levels. It's when the teams are on the road, away from their homes for extended periods that parents lose control. This tends to be at a higher level of play than house or select.

10-19-2009, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	Theo Fleury - From Sexual Abuse to Redemption The Fall and Rise of Theo Fleury \| CBC News: the fifth estate Caught this the other night on the Fifth Estate. Very well done documentary about sexual abuse of young hockey players and the impact it had on their lives as told by Theo Fleury (former NHL All-star and Captain of the Calgary Flames). I can only hope that Fleury finds it within himself to keep his demons under his control. Last edited by james t kirk; 10-19-2009 at 05:31 PM..

10-19-2009, 05:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	I heard about this recently. I know Sheldon Kennedy's story quite well. He's a very nice guy, actually. So it's a shame if people only know him for his history of on-ice and off-ice antics. While Fleury was playing, I was a huge fan of his, so it struck me when I heard about this. I can't even imagine the torment these survivors go through daily. I wish them both strength, and commend them immensely for the courage to tell their stories. And to think that Graham James actually was (or is) coaching youth hockey in Europe after his release from prison.... __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 10-19-2009 at 05:59 PM..

10-27-2009, 05:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	I'm impressed with Fleury's composure in all the publicity that's been generated around this. The whole issue makes me wonder how many more times this kind of abuse is going to be played out. As a hockey parent I try to keep a close eye on the coaches and the team dynamics. For the most part, I think that there are controls in place to prevent, at least at the house league and select levels. It's when the teams are on the road, away from their homes for extended periods that parents lose control. This tends to be at a higher level of play than house or select. __________________ You said you didn't give a fuck about hockey And I never saw someone say that before You held my hand and we walked home the long way You were loosening my grip on Bobby Orr http://dune.wikia.com/wiki/Leto_Atreides_I

10-19-2009, 06:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	Sheldon Kennedy is actually the unsung hero in all of this. He was the one who summoned the bravery to lay charges against his abuser. I can understand why Fleury did not want to come forward when he was playing. I'm sure that the NHL is an extremely macho organization and Fleury did not want to face the suggestion that he might have somehow been a homosexual. Now, at the point he is at, I can only guess that the reason that he has not charged his former coach is that he doens't want to relive all of that. If that's his decision, then I have to respect it. In watching the video and you see the photos of Kennedy and Fleury as youngsters playing hockey you can't help but be struck by how incredibly young they were to have faced such abuse. You read about it, you hear about it, but when you see the pictures and you hear the stories, it breaks your heart.