Colin Wilson officially retires

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This article was published 05/01/2021 (1961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colin Wilson made official Tuesday what he had known for more than a year.

He was retiring after an 11-year career in the NHL — the end hastened by major surgery to repair both hips and a lengthy battle with the debilitating effects of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Last October, Wilson detailed his struggle with OCD in a revealing piece, headlined The Things you Can’t See, in The Players Tribune.

“It’s more a closure thing for me, honestly,” said Wilson from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. “Since I played last I’ve had two sets of bilateral hip surgeries — I’ve had four hip surgeries — and I’ve been recovering from that and I’ve known for a while is going to retire. It’s just nice to announce it and to be getting messages from people from throughout my career.”

Wilson last played during the 2019-20 season, suiting up for nine games for the Colorado Avalanche.

The 31-year-old former Winnipegger was born in Greenwich, Conn., while his dad Carey was playing for the NHL’s New York Rangers. Colin spent his last three seasons with the Avs after starting his career with the Nashville Predators, who chose him seventh overall in the 2008 NHL Draft.

The latest medical procedures appear to be a success after a misfire with first set of hip surgeries.

“Time will tell,” said Wilson of his prognosis. “The doctor and I have spoken — I’m 10 weeks out of my last set of surgeries — and he expects me to take a year (to recover), so it’s gonna take a bit of time here to really know but the images look good.”

Writing in the Tribune, Wilson was candid about how OCD had impacted his life. 

From an early diagnosis as a rookie, which he dismissed, to the profound impact of bottoming out during Stanley Cup final in 2017. The untreated OCD combined with the use of prescription drugs and alcohol was an devastating combination. He eventually sought treatment through therapy in 2019.

“I had known for a long time that I wanted to share the story and was waiting for the right time,” said Wilson. “For closure and opening up, it honestly feels better than keeping it all locked up and I know that it has it has the ability to help people. Certainly I’m proud that that will be a part of the story with my retirement.”

His struggle with OCD continues.

“I went into it with the attitude that I was going to cure it and I’d be done with it,” said Wilson. “And unfortunately that isn’t necessarily the case.

“But it is an extremely manageable type of chronic psychological disorder or whatever you want to call it. It’s going to be a lifetime of managing it most likely. But I’ve done a lot of work. There’s just a lot of self maintenance type stuff you have to do.”

The end of his playing career has opened up new opportunities for Wilson, who has returned to the school where he spent two successful years before turning pro.

During the pandemic, he can remain at his New York base and continue his studies online.

“I’ve already been… back at Boston University getting a psychology degree,” he said. “And then hopefully the plan after that is to get a masters for mental health counseling. And then I can kind of go into that area, you know, whether that’s in the game or not I don’t know.  I just want to help people in that area.”

Although he has his new life, Wilson still misses part of his old one.

“I’m going to miss the game,” said Wilson. “I mean, I grew up in Winnipeg playing on the ponds. Recently it started to really hit me that I won’t be coming back to the game. I haven’t been on the ice in over a year already but, yeah, I miss it. I’m looking forward to checking the box scores of world juniors and looking forward to watching the gold-medal game (Tuesday night).”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14