Rick DiPietro said he was joking when he said he had thoughts of killing himself because of his numerous injuries, team losses and fan hatred. (Tony Caldwell/QMI Agency/Files)
Recently demoted New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro said he wasn’t serious when he told a TV station Thursday that he once contemplated suicide.
DiPietro, who was sent to the AHL by the Isles last week, told News 12 Long Island that he thought about killing himself at one point because of his numerous injuries, team losses and fan hatred.
“There were times I thought about driving my car into a tree,” DiPietro said. “There’s been a lot of dark times.”
He also took a shot at the Islanders for sending him to the minors.
“It felt like someone ripped out my heart, stuck a knife in it then lit it on fire and flushed it down the toilet,” DiPietro said.
Later in the day, however, the New York Post reported that DiPietro’s comments were facetious and that he was trying to emphasize the importance of the role his wife has played in his career.
“It’s been a trying last couple years,” DiPietro said. “There have been times that I've been depressed, and I don't know where I'd be without the support of my wife.”
Islanders general manager Garth Snow released a statement regarding the report.
“We are aware of Rick’s comments today and the severity of them. We will handle them internally as we do with all player matters,” he said.
