Rangers captain Jacob Trouba spoke out on Wednesday after a popular hockey podcast crossed a line in describing his play during the Eastern Conference Final.
During a segment of “Spittin’ Chiclets” that went viral, producer Pasha Eshghi brought up Trouba’s charity work and his wife, Kelly, in criticizing his play against the Panthers in the series, which the Rangers ultimately lost in six games.
“Trouba and his wife founded the Trouba Creative Expression Arts Program which offers art services to adults with epilepsy and seizures,” Eshghi said. “Well, you want to know the irony of that situation? Trouba’s wife is a neuroscience major. Maybe Jacob should go home and get a lesson from his wife about the dangers of concussions that can lead to epilepsy and seizures before he goes around concussing guys on a daily basis.”
Rangers captain Jacob Trouba
Jacob Trouba and his wife Kelly
Pasha Eshghi
Trouba announced that for the next 30 days, proceeds from his 24-inch print sales would be donated to the Athletes for Hope Foundation in response.
“Suicide rates have doubled in the past 20 years in U.S. college athletes [per U.S. News and World Report],” Trouba wrote. “11 days ago, a PGA Tour golfer [Grayson Murray] tragically took his own life after a mental health battle and people asked how that was possible. We must do better than this.”
