Former WHL player Rob Trumbley's family believes concussions led to his death

Aishwarya Dudha · CBC News

· Posted: May 06, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Lisa Degelman's younger member died earlier this year, and successful her heart, she believes she knows what the origin was. 

"It was concussions," she said, "and their effect connected his brain."

Rob Trumbley, primitively from Regina, was a erstwhile enforcer who played for WHL's Moose Jaw Warriors and was a draught prime for the Vancouver Canucks. He died astatine the property of 50 connected Jan. 13, and his sister says helium died by suicide.

Degelman said that helium spent his big beingness playing hard, warring often and battling the invisible wounds near behind.

Trumbley whitethorn person made his sanction successful the rink arsenic an enforcer, but disconnected the ice, his sister says helium was gentle and kind. 

She said they weren't particularly adjacent increasing up, but reconnected much successful caller years. Since his death, she's heard from friends and erstwhile teammates who retrieve his generosity.

"I had idiosyncratic scope retired to maine and say, helium [Trumbley] texted maine and said if your girl ever needs assistance successful the movie industry, I've got connections," she said. 

Degelman said that adjacent successful his toughest moments, helium seldom showed however overmuch helium was struggling. 

"He fought done it and, eventually, conscionable mislaid the volition erstwhile helium was 50," she said. 

Degelman said Trumbley struggled with addiction and undiagnosed depression, though she believes those were all linked to repeated caput trauma.

She said helium got truthful galore concussions that the household couldn't support track, and that players didn't get tested astatine baseline similar they are now.   

"A Friday nighttime aft helium intelligibly got concussed ... Saturday night, helium played again. And it'd beryllium precise uncommon successful a crippled that helium wouldn't combat oregon astatine slightest hit," she said. 

Diagnosis confirmed aft death

She recalled how symptoms dilatory started showing up implicit the years: Light sensitivity, debilitating headaches, temper swings. Degelman said that successful the end, it wasn't addiction that was the problem, it was CTE. 

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is simply a degenerative encephalon illness linked to repeated caput injuries.

Trumbley had plans to spell to Toronto for testing, but ne'er made it. Degelman said that aft his death, his encephalon was donated to researchers astatine the University of Toronto, and connected April 15, the diagnosis was confirmed.

"It was not astonishing ... a full batch of sadness due to the fact that it was confirmed. We knew helium struggled, but present we 100 per cent cognize he's struggled rather bad." 

In the weeks since his death, Degelman has heard from radical who spot their loved ones successful Trumbley's communicative — others with suspected undiagnosed CTE oregon concerns astir it who are present seeking intelligence wellness assistance due to the fact that of the family's openness.

"If we tin assistance 1 person, that's enough," she said.

Degelman and her hubby privation to honour Trumbley by advocating for much consciousness and support, particularly for men and erstwhile athletes. 

"The stigma is inactive there," she said, "especially for men." 

Degelman said there is much knowing present than determination was erstwhile Trumbley utilized to play. For now, they're celebrating his life, and aft that, they're not definite however they'll proceed their advocacy, but she's definite they will. 

She said Trumbley was a protector connected the ice, and present they'll beryllium protecting his legacy. 

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is struggling, here's wherever to look for help:

• Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call oregon substance 988.
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling connected the website.
• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour situation centre.

This usher from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines however to speech astir termination with idiosyncratic you're disquieted about.