Theo Deserves Another Chance

Theo Fleury wants another shot to play the game he loves. After a six year absence Fleury says he’s ready to return. “At heart I’m a hockey player, first and foremost. Obviously I didn’t go out the way I wanted to.” Theo last played in the NHL in 2002-03, he was suspended indefinitely for violating the NHL’s substance abuse policy.

Fleury has been sober for four years with the support of family and Alcoholic’s Anonymous. “I knew I wanted to achieve sobriety at some point in my life,” Fleury said Wednesday. “I knew I had a problem. I never hid that fact from anybody.

Theo wouldn’t be the first player to make a comeback to the NHL. Guy Lafleur made a comeback in 1988 at age 37 for the NY Rangers after being away for four years. Guy scored two goals in his first game back to the Montreal Forum, the crowd chanted “GUY! GUY! GUY!” every time he touched the puck. Mario Lemieux returned December 27, 2000 against the Toronto Maple Leafs scoring a goal and adding two assists. He was out of the game for three years prior to that night. The most recent big name to step out of retirement is Claude Lemieux. At age 43 he resumed his playing career with the San Jose Sharks in 2008-09 after being out of the league for a lengthy six years.

Every great athlete always feels they have something left in the tank, physically they break down, but mentally they don’t. Striving to once again achieve greatness amongst the best competition the world has to offer. In Theo’s case, I believe it’s also a desire for self-respect. “I have to believe somewhere, someway that I can do this,” he told TSN. “Otherwise there is no sense in me putting in the work and not expecting to achieve the end goal.” Theo scored 455 goals and added 633 assists over his NHL career. He proved that one can play beyond their size.

It was almost twenty years ago when Fleury scored an overtime playoff goal against the Edmonton Oilers, It was possibly the most famous goal celebration of all time. It was the beginning of his career and at that moment he probably felt like nothing would ever stop him, he was passionate, talented, and happy. At age 41 he’s again searching for that same image of himself. I hope to see you sliding down the ice in 2010. Good luck, Theo.

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