Get It Together, Eddie

That is not the photo I wanted to see when I opened social media this morning, but there it was. According to reports, this is the mugshot for Hockey Hall of Fame netminder and Stanley Cup champion Ed Belfour after he was arrested in Kentucky early this morning. And while it's funny at first glance, I'm starting to worry about Ed Belfour possibly having a drinking problem after his repeated brushes with law enforcement following a night of binge drinking. Last night seems it was no different as Ed Belfour was arrested for, among other things, alcohol intoxication in a public place after an incident in a hotel.

I'm not sure why the Carman, Manitoba native was in Bowling Green, Kentucky, but Bowling Green police were called to the Kentucky Grand Hotel and Spa where the arrest report states that Belfour "was lying on the floor clutching a curtain rod that had been ripped out of the dry wall above a window when police approached him" and that he "was kicking a door to the locked spa in an attempt to get in". As per the report, Belfour's condition suggested he was intoxicated as he demonstrated "slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and could barely stand up". Making matter worse, the police also reported that "Belfour was not being compliant when officers tried to put handcuffs on him."

Look, I'm not here to pile on Belfour. If he is having trouble with alcohol, he wouldn't be the first former pro athlete to go through this, but he needs to admit he's not very good around alcohol and seek treatment if his evenings end up with him in a jail cell. For anyone who has woken up in a jail cell with no recollection of the night before - and I doubt Belfour will remember much based on his actions - it has to be an unnerving and embarrassing situation. I can't speak from experience, thankfully, but I can't imagine the confusion and shame that must be felt when the officers explain why one's hotel room has been replaced by a jail cell.

I hopeful this incident sets off a chain of events for Belfour that sees him move in the right direction when it comes to alcohol consumption and moderation. The first step in solving any problem is admitting there is a problem, and I can't help but think that Ed Belfour might need some help in that regard. Whatever the case, I just hope that Belfour finds whatever he needs to be successful in life so there are no more police reports and mugshots in his future.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!