Will Theo Fleury’s insane life keep him out of the Hockey Hall of Fame?
At 5-5 and 150 pounds, Theo Fleury was hockey’s little giant, a high-octane whirling dervish who thrilled fans and antagonized opponents. The smallest player in hockey, Fleury succeeded by playing the game on the edge – and he lived his life that way, too.
Fleury was ignored by NHL scouts, but against all odds he built a hall of fame worthy career highlighted by over 1000 points, a Stanley Cup championship, An Olympic Gold Medal and 7 NHL all star games appearances.
But while he was dazzling fans on the ice – away from the rink, Fleury’s life was spinning out of control.
Why was this pint-sized superstar so self destructive … and so full of rage?
In later years he’d come to understand that the source of his anger, guilt and shame was a painful secret he held inside. This was a secret so dark that hiding it ultimately cost Fleury his career, his family and almost his life.
This is the remarkable story of Theo Fleury – his unlikely rise to stardom, his descent into a personal hell and his search for freedom from the ghosts of the past.
KEY RESOURCES:
“Playing with Fire” The Fleury autobiography
“Playing with Fire” HBO documentary
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35 Comments
He should be in the Hall. A point a game player, a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal. Plus his greatest victory, sobriety. Yes he had his demons but he worked to overcome them, including Graham James. Not many, if any in the H of F had to deal with as much.
The Flames definitely need to retire his jersey, at the very least. Now that his story is out there, and he has turned his life around against all odds, it won't cost the Flames a thing to show Fluery some gratitude for what he did for that city.
retire # 14 !!!!
I met him a few years back, very nice man and very smart.
S on his chest he's a hero
Damn right !! growing up in Calgary he was a legend…. playing road hockey we all wanted to be Theo!!
The Hockey Hall of Fame is in a basement in Toronto. Sure, he should be there – why not?
I hate his politics but can 100% empathize with him [and others like Kennedy] over the completely unacceptable abuse on his road to the NHL. I think he belongs in the HHOF. His story is THE cautionary tale for hockey stardom. I hope he has left his personal demons behind now….but it doesn't seem so on Twitter.
Hockey Canada should confiscate his Olympic Gold Medal. If he hasn't already pawned it for drug money.
Decades went by and Theo was just another former star athlete. He has the balls to stand up to the lunacy poisoning our culture and speak out against it, unlike the majority of COWARDS he played alongside who I guess couldn't be bothered to use their public profiles to ya know, save the country, and here comes the degenerate losers who wait until 2023 to call him a RAGING LUNATIC. Ya Theo had some rough years, and probably wishes he could have ended his career better, but I would stand shoulder to shoulder with him and defend him with my life now, that's how important what he's doing is. Jamie Sale too!!!! They couldn't be bigger heroes period.
Absolutely Hall of Famer
Great player who survived extremely tough times! And his recent comments over the last 10 years prove he's still surviving, still living, and isn't a "conspiracy theorist", but believes in facts. Yes, HoF.
No-brainer. Retire the number, put him in the Hall.
Such an inspiring story. This guy deserves all the best.
Absolutely a worthy hall of famer.
It would be difrent if he didn’t overcome his addictions and his abuse. Hockey hall of fame needs to recognize his upbringing and his jr career on how he was treated. How many people make it out of this world growing up like he did. Let alone make the nhl and be a force at his size.
YES, doing all that on addiction is impressive.
Yes. He should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame. The way he played hockey shouldn't and doesn't have anything to do with his personal life.
Put him in the hall of fame
He deserves it, he proved that you can fight your demons while still holding it together, he is classy & was always productive all the way till his retirement, that shows alot about his skill level and of course having to fight those demons on a daily basis, he should be inducted no doubt about it.
All the stories you guys tell are done with such respect for the person. I like Theo a lot and I started watching this video with a bit of skepticism. But you did an excellent job making this video. It’s a good testament to a great player who also had “a life” that, thankfully, he survived and overcame. Great job!
Definitely a hall of famer. The guy produced on ice and worked to overcome his ptsd and disease. He’s a roll model.
When I was 14 if a man tried to rape me he would've had his balls shoved down his throat! Im no tough guy but noway would I let that happen. if I was overpowered once you better believe I wouldn't stick around to let it happen 149 more times
I loved Fleury. Glad he conquered his addictions. His 2 books are great as well. They are actually great tools
Fluery is currently embarrassing himself daily on social media in insane CONspiracy theories. Sad AF.
Loved me some Theo Fluery ias a Rangers fan. I didn't think he'd play much because I thought he'd get into too much trouble in NYC
Fleury should be in the Hall of Fame and have his Jersey retired too. No questions asked.
Theo's name has ZERO place in the rafters in the Saddledome. He DID allow others to be victimized in my province and now he's a mouthpiece puppet for extremist right-wing political ideas and movements. The guy is a total whack-job and the Flames clearly want nothing to do with him.
amazing
It's unfortunate that he has become a reactionary lunatic, but he has embraced people and ideas that are unforgivable. He has entertained Holocaust denial and befriended fascists. He should not be inducted into the HOF.
If his Number in Calgary isn't retired than the Flames are a politically correct joke and we all know that the Hockey Hall of Fame is a politically correct joke!
However without DOUBT he should be in the Hall and his Number should be retired.
Theo needs to run for Parliament and be the voice too many are too cowardly to be!
Go Theo!
May this be a lesson to us all: you may try and hide your demons. Your suffering. Your shame. But they will always find a way to torment your life until you take them head on, let the demons sit at the table, hear them out and then carefully send them to their room with the door cracked… because those sonsofbitches will never fully go away.
I met Theo Fleury when i was younger and he told me that nobody was actually cool in the 80s , they were just on cocaine . I was 7 yrs old dude . I didn’t understand then but I understand now . Hope all is well Theo 👍👍👍
he has been drinking the crazy conservative juice
absolutely he should be in the hall of fame