Blades Of Glory

In the chapter I am reading in Blades Of Glory right now they are discussing the issue of cutting seniors in favor of a younger player of equal or less ability. Many parents are displeased when one of Duncs best friends, Ryan Briese a senior, is cut from the team despite an opinion of him being much better than any of the younger players taking instead of him.

His mother thinks back to Doug Stansberry. A young man who was put in the same situation as Ryan; cut when deserving of playing. Doug Stansberry is now dead and there is nothing Coach Saterdalen can do to keep his mother from thinking the young man did not kill himself because he was cut from the hockey team.

Ryan's mom now seems worried that he will end up like Doug Stansberry. However with strong support from his classmates, friends parents and even the school principal. Ryan does not even entertain a thought of suicide.

It's scary to think that something as unimportant as a game can convince someone to end their own life.