Concussions cost 24-year-old Capitals prospect his career
Patrick Wey's professional career is over before it had a chance to begin. According to Capitals writer Mike Vogel, the 24-year-old Wey made the difficult decision to retire from professional hockey after suffering back-to-back concussions.
In wake of back to back concussions, Patrick Wey has elected to retire and pursue educational interests. Great kid, wish him the best. #Caps
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) June 29, 2015
Wey was a defenseman who excelled in four seasons at Boston College, helping the Eagles to national championships in 2010 and 2012. He was named a Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman and a Second Team All-Star in his senior season in 2012-13.
Wey turned pro after graduation and suffered his first concussion nine games into his NHL career in a fight with Nashville enforcer Rich Clune on March 30, 2014.
That concussion ended his season, but he attempted to make a return in the fall with the Hershey Bears. Wey lasted just three games before suffering another concussion on October 24 from an elbow to the head by Lehigh Valley's Jay Rosenhill. That game would be the last of his professional career.
According to the Huffington Post, Wey was still suffering from concussion symptoms severe enough to keep him off the ice by February. Capitals writer Chuck Gormley said he remembered Wey voicing concern about concussions before that final hit.
"I remember chatting with Wey atop the Verizon Center press box and during that conversation he revealed he had suffered previous concussions before the fight with Clune and that he was concerned about his long-term health," Gormley wrote in a recent column. "Less than six months later he played his final game."
(h/t Twitter)
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