Michael Talbot with files from Avery Haines, CityNews
Former NHL hockey star Theoren Fleury poses for a photograph after an interview about his new book called Playing With Fire`` in Toronto on Wednesday...
"I wasn't surprised at all,” he told CityNews on Thursday. “This is the biggest epidemic we have on the planet today. When a quarter of the earth's population before the age of 18 years old has been sexually molested, we have a huge problem on our hands.”
Fleury suffered in silence throughout his hockey career, coming forward after retirement from the NHL. For years he battled addiction to drugs, alcohol, and gambling.
He fears the alleged Penn State victims will suffer a similar fate.
"What I know from my own experience is the hell that those kids are going to face if they don't get the help that they need as soon as possible.
"Drugs and alcohol and sex and gambling, food and cutting, all these things can relieve that pain from us.”
Penn State isn’t the first storied sports institution to be rocked by scandal.
In Toronto, iconic hockey shrine Maple Leaf Gardens was the sordid scene of two decades of abuse in the 70s and 80s.
Martin Kruze, the first victim to come forward, later committed suicide.
For his sister-in-law, Teresa Kruze, the Penn State story rings too familiar.
"Yet another sex abuse scandal coming to light, another storied sports franchise having to deal with this issue," she said.
But Fleury stresses it’s not just the world of sports dealing with the problem.
"Wherever children can be left alone, that's where you're going to find these guys,” he said. "There's 750,000 pedophiles online every single day and they are not looking at real estate. They are looking at the most disgusting, horrible pictures you've ever seen in your life."
Paul Dennis, PHD, sports psychology, says the Penn State scandal serves as a reminder for us to be vigilant in our own communities.
"If it can happen at an institution like Penn State, where the academics and athletic programs are beyond reproach, then it can happen anywhere,” he said. “And because of that we have to look inside our own backyards now. If it's going on at Penn State what's happening at University of Toronto, what's happening at York University?”
Fleury urges citizens to use common sense. If you notice something that doesn’t sit right, contact the authorities.
"If you see something that is not within your core values of who you are as a human being, you need to speak up."
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