The First Step To A Second Chance

It was November 1, 1976 when the world first heard Elton John sing the chorus to his and Bernie Taupin's song "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word". While the lyrics of that song have nothing to do with hockey, there is one player who decided to say that word today after his incredulous actions at the start of July. I wrote about Alex Galchenyuk's horrible night in Scottsdale, Arizona last week, and I noted that "there is a path out of this mess and it involves taking responsibility for his behaviour and actions". In today's world, it seems that rarely happens with celebrities who simply try to have publicists spin stories enough that everyone simply waits for the scandal to go away. That usually happens, but not today.

Alex Galchenyuk issued this statement via social media today.

As stated before, I'm not one to pile on when a guy hits rock-bottom, but this is a good start at digging himself out of that hole. Alex Galchenyuk's letter above owns his actions, apologizes for his behaviours, and commits to fixing the problem by seeking help for what he did. If he was seeking a second chance, this was the right first step in making that happen.

My hope is that ALex Galchenyuk gets the help he seeks, finds peace by working through his poor choices and choosing better outcomes, and ultimately can continue his hockey career in whatever form it may take. ALex Glachenyuk isn't a bad person, but he certainly made poor decisions in one 24-hour span that cost him a professional hockey contract, any goodwill he had earned in the game, and potentially a lucrative career in the sport to which he had dedicated his life.

Second chances are earned. His letter above is the first step in earning that opportunity, and it's one he shouldn't take for granted in any way as he works his way through the NHL/NHLPA Assistance Program.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!