The Columbus Dispatch broke Nathan Horton’s story first, but it’s been spread around a few places and added to, most recently by The Hockey News – “Former teammate Marc Savard feels Nathan Horton’s pain.”

You can only hope Horton makes the right decision, whatever that might be, but it breaks your heart to see — this guy who’s so young succumb to “feeling like an old man” at 29, unable to play the game, work the job he’s been working at nearly his whole life. And if he doesn’t… what then? What becomes of the rest of his life? Does it only get as bad as Marc Savard has it, which includes rolling headaches and bouts of depression, but at least he gets to spend time with his kids?

When you play sports at a high level you tend to push your body that little bit harder, have to dedicate just that bit extra time to your fitness and skills. Both those things conspire against each other, because the harder you push the more likely injury is, and you tend to play through the little injuries, compounding them, because you have spent so much time preparing yourself to play, so why wouldn’t you go out and do just that?

I think the Matt Christopher books got me into athletes as protagonist — I devoured his books when I was a kid. But I loved all things sports. I wasn’t particularly good at sports, I think I did okay, and I played for a very good Division III college volleyball program that demanded moderate physical preparation and practice, but even I recall my final season when my shoulder wasn’t quite right, my knees were sore most days, and it just became more difficult to get up and play. I remember struggling with having and even wanting to give up a sport I had put so much into and can only imagine how much harder it is for someone at Horton or Savard’s level.

I didn’t explicitly fish around for story ideas or characters and think, “Hey, an ex-athlete would be a great protagonist for my new novel,” William Murphy just sort of walked on and happened to have a hockey background, some concussion issues, and a family he was spending more time with (albeit not for long). It’s a fascinating ground with built-in tensions and obstacles to overcome (or not) and great fodder for a story.

But that’s the book. In real life, I don’t know what the right decision is, but I wish Marc Savard good and improving health and good luck, Horty, with your decision.