I, an Edmonton Oilers fan, Was Wrong About Zack Kassian

When Zack Kassian was traded to the Edmonton Oilers there was a definite reaction. Not all positive.

I was one of those people who heard about the rumours, who went oh hell no. 

More from Editorials

• Three Battles To Watch At Edmonton Oilers Training Camp
• Keys to Success: What the Edmonton Oilers Need to Focus on for a Successful Season
• The Edmonton Oilers Mean Business This Season
• Are The Edmonton Oilers Better Than Last Season?
• Analyzing the Importance of Preseason Games for the Edmonton Oilers

After coming around, I’ve come to grips about the trade. Zack Kassian could be redeemed while playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

I tweeted that I would cheer for Kassian because he’s an Edmonton Oiler and I cheer for the Edmonton Oilers.

After reading a disgusting tweet, today I realized it’s much more than that. It’s something that I didn’t feel comfortable talking about, but it’s something that I’ve thought about for a while.

I’ve seen first hand what Alcoholism does to someone.

Her Story

In my family here in Edmonton, we’re pretty small: there’s the immediate family with grandmother living with her son (my father) and their daughter/sister, Hanne (pronounced Hannah). My aunt Hanne was a great ballet instructor: she was tremendously influential on the dance community here in Edmonton and across Canada. Heck, she even worked with Kurt Browning, the former Canadian Olympian in Figure Skating. She had a stubborn attitude and a higher air to her, but she was fiercely passionate in whatever she did.

However, I can’t say I saw her like that. You see, my aunt Hanne was an alcoholic. For years. She went to the whole five step program, she tried everything in the book. It didn’t help.

My aunt Hanne, struggled for the greater part of her life with this demon. As a nephew for family gatherings, you really don’t know the meaning of the “elephant in the room” until you have a family member that is suffering from alcoholism.

I remember when we would host Christmas dinners, you weren’t sure what Aunt Hanne you were going to get. You weren’t sure if you were going to get the Hanne that would fall asleep at the dinner table. You weren’t sure if you were going to get the Hanne that would slur her words whenever she talked pausing in between. You weren’t sure if you were going to see the Aunt Hanne that would have trouble walking to the couch because she was too intoxicated to walk straight.

I could only see my aunt in the drunken mess. I grew resentful of her. I gave up on her. I only realized that it was far too late to be holding those emotions.

I remember there was one night, where my aunt Hanne would stay with us. I remember there being a loud argument between my dad and her and it was probably the loudest and angriest I ever heard my dad. He ripped into her. She was drinking mouth wash from his bathroom in the middle of the night.

I’m not a hero in this story either. I had a falling out with my aunt Hanne in fall 2013. We had an argument over the phone. She said some things. I noticed her slurring her words and I snapped. I called her a “wasteful old drunk that made everyone’s life miserable”

After that, I would not talk to her for more than a couple minutes.

My aunt Hanne passed away on my father’s birthday, January 25th, 2015. I spent a year with regret and anger over the comments I said. I was at her death bed watching her breath her last breaths, asking for forgiveness and burying the hatchet. I would hear from my grandmother how my aunt was always so curious about my education because I would later find out, that she graduated too with a bachelor of Education.

I could only see my aunt in the drunken mess. I grew resentful of her. I gave up on her. I only realized that it was far too late to be holding those emotions.

Why Zack?

The reason why I link this to Zack Kassian is because I can understand now what he is going through. Imagine being a 24 year old guy, having to deal with your demons of alcoholism. Imagine having to read tweets saying “Hey Zack, do you drink a thing of vodka before the game?”

It’s completely repulsive. I saw first hand what alcohol does to people. I saw how crippling it can be. I saw how it changes someone. I saw the negative impact it has. I know first hand what happens when you give up someone who needs the most help. It’s a horrible, horrible mistake.

That’s why I’m supporting Zack Kassian. I don’t give a flying crap what he did to the Oilers anymore, because it goes beyond the game of Hockey. It’s about a man who is trying to over come his demons. It’s about someone who needs the support that he deserves.

He’s a guy that I will be rooting for. I want to see him succeed, because I’ve seen what happens when someone fails. When someone fails, it alcoholism robs them of every last bit of potential that person had.

If I knew what I know now, I know that I would have not made the same mistake.

Next: Why Kassian Should be On the Oilers Top Line

Zack Kassian, I hope you have a long and successful career. If you know someone that suffers from alcoholism, I know how tempting it is to give up on them.

Don’t.