The former Washington Capitals forward Stephen Peat passed away on 12 September 2024. Two weeks ago, he was severely injured after a car struck him while crossing a road.
The 44-year-old life took several dramatic and challenging turns, especially after retiring from hockey.
He was once a talented NHL player with hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual earnings.
But in the later years of his life, the former athlete battled substance use disorder and PCS (post-concussion syndrome), eventually becoming homeless.
Highlights
- Stephen earned nearly two million dollars throughout his career as an NHL player.
- Peat’s NHL career spanned from 2001 to 2005. He played as an enforcer for the Washington Capitals all those years.
- Besides the National Hockey League, the late athlete also played in the WHL for five seasons and the AHL for seven seasons.
The NHL Alumni Association first shared the tragic news of the passing of Peat.
The organization wrote,
“Stephen Peat has passed away from his injuries after a tragic accident just over two weeks ago.”
In the wake of his passing, people can’t help but recall how once a promising ice hockey player’s life took a dark turn.
Stephen Peat Earned Impressive Sum During His Career
HockeyZonePlu reported that the former Washington Capitals forward’s total career earnings were US $1,900,205, which is equivalent to US $3,150,754 today.
As mentioned, the Canadian athlete played four seasons with the Capitals. The late player was drafted by Anaheim in 1998.
The NHL Alumni Association is heartbroken to learn that Stephen Peat has passed away from his injuries after a tragic accident just over two weeks ago. He was only 44 years old.
— NHL Alumni (@NHLAlumni) September 12, 2024
Stephen was drafted 32nd overall by the @AnaheimDucks in 1998. In 2000, he was traded to the… pic.twitter.com/sjbWx3VuV2
In June 2000, the Anaheim Ducks traded him to the NHL team for a fourth-round pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Soon after, he signed a contract with the team. During his time with the Capitals, he scored 8 goals, made 2 assists, and had 234 penalty minutes in 130 NHL games.
His annual average salary was around US $468,205. The summary of his earnings for each season is listed below.
| Season (Year) | League | Earnings (US $) |
| 2001-2002 | NHL | $425,000 |
| 2002-2003 | NHL | $525,000 |
| 2003-2004 | NHL | $495,000 |
| 2004-2005 | NHL | NHL lockout year/no salary |
| 2005-2006 | NHL | $455,205 |
Born in Princeton, British Columbia, Stephen Peat began his ice hockey journey at the age of 15. He went on to play five seasons in Canada’s Western Hockey League.
Drafted in the 1995 WHL bantam draft, Peat played for the Red Deer Rebels, Calgary Hitmen, and Tri-City Americans. He scored 11 goals and made 36 assists in 203 WHL games.
Stephen played for the Portland Pirates, Hershey Bears, and Albany River Rats of AHL from 2000 to 2007.
Peat last played professional hockey in the 2006-07 season. He appeared in only one game for Albany.
Peat’s Post-Hockey Life Took Dark Turn & His Family Couldn’t Help Him
The former ice hockey player endured numerous hits on his head throughout his career. Eventually, it took a toll on his health, making it difficult for him.
The athlete revealed how much pain he had endured during an interview with The NY Times in 2016.
“All the blows were to the left side of my head. That’s where all my pain is.“
Stephen Peat told The NY Times
After retiring in 2007, Peat’s life took a dark turn. His headaches plagued him, he fell victim to substance use disorder and post-concussion syndrome.
His addiction and struggles overwhelmed him so much that he eventually lost everything -his money and his home – and became homeless. In addition, his relationship with his family also became cold.
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In 2017, Stephen Peat’s father, Walter Peat, said their relationship deteriorated because Stephen’s actions became increasingly dangerous and uncertain.
The most shocking incident was when Peat accidentally set fire and burned down his family’s home. The former athlete reportedly left a blowtorch unattended.
The fire incident led to Peat admitting to arson and sentenced to a year of probation.
As Stephen’s physical and mental health worsened, his father felt more and more helpless.
While sharing the painful truth, Walter said,
“It breaks my heart to be seen as interfering when all I want is to help.”
His father and brothers were always worried. But they didn’t know how to save him from his struggles.
Additional Information
- In November 2017, Walter Peat sought a no-contact order against his son.
- He was born on 10 March 1980, in Princeton, British Columbia, and was 44-year-old at the time of his passing.
- He was not married to anyone and had no kids.
