Memories of an Enforcer
Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Posted by Kerrzy

To play at the top, at any level of hockey from bantam right up to the pro's, there is normally not much between the competition for spots on any given team and so its decided normally just by who works harder.

When it comes down to it the difference between making a junior team and going back to play somewhere else can be the difference between a guys hockey career advancing and a guys career stopping. At this point in the career of players in most of the other main professional sports in North America, as has become more and more apparent in the last few years, drugs become an option and therefore become commonly used options.

Dave Morrisette is a career semi-pro hockey player, having played in the AHL, the old IHL and the British Hockey League; and played 11 games with the Montreal Canadiens from 1998-2000. His book, which is starting to make waves, "Mémoires d'un Dur à Cuire" (Memories of an Enforcer) is the story of steroids and stimulants in sports and is aimed at helping the next generation of hockey players stay away from that side of the game.

Morissette was involved through the use of both steroids and stimulants, and suffered the consequences when his body could no longer support his weight making him more susceptible to injuries which eventually cost him his career. His book, unlike that of Jose Canseco of baseball does not drop names, and is more aimed towards helping the young kids out.

A lot of players, including Wayne Gretzky, have spoken out about steroids and stimulants in sports since the book was released, and most maintain that steroids aren't a commonly used drug; though stimulants such as ephedrine (Sudafed) and other over the counter drugs are a lot more commonplace.

This is an issue that is sure to be addressed if and when a new CBA is reached, though steroids in hockey seems to be far less a problem than it is in other sports. Should the use of any type of stimulant be outlawed on the grounds that a level playing field is thusly sabotaged? At the end of the day that's for the league to decide, but most believe that the problems start at the junior ranks as players battle to come up. Whether or not this book will begin the process of change is yet to be seen, but I think it's something worth discussing.

(picture at http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/03/21/Sports/Morissette_book050321.html)