Steve Montador became the fifth former NHL player to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) posthumously. Montador passed away on February 15, 2015; he was only thirty-five years old. During his NHL career, Montador played for the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Chicago Blackhawks.
Montador, a player who suffered numerous concussions during his NHL career, actually offered to donate his brain prior to his death in an effort to further research. His brain was examined at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital.
Before Montador’s death, four other former NHL players suffered the same fate–Reggie Flemming (73), Bob Probert (45), Rick Martin (59), and Derek Boogaard (28).