FAN-FARE: A DEAFENING SILENCE BY ADAM GAVRIEL

BY: Adam Gavriel

Over 5 months after his tragic passing, the Rangers returned home to re-open the 33% transformed Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Not only was it notable for the first phase renovation that was completed, but this would also be the first game the Blueshirts played on their home ice since the passing of  their 2010-2011 teammate, enforcer Derek Boogaard.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

Not surprisingly, the mother of Wade Belak said the former NHL player suffered from depression before committing suicide last Wednesday.

“I think he was taking control of that,” Lorraine Belak said in a phone interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Company from Nashville, Tenn. “He didn’t talk about it all the time or a lot.”

The body of the 35-year-old Belak was found in a downtown luxury hotel and condominium in Toronto where he was staying as he prepared for the reality show “Battle of the Blades,” the CBC’s version of “Dancing With the Stars.” A person familiar with his death said Belak, who had eight goals, 25 assists, 136 fights and 1,263 penalty minutes in 549 NHL games for five teams in 14 seasons, hanged himself just hours after joking with 2006 Olympic pairs silver medalist Tanith Belbin on a Twitter post.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

Another tragic story rocked the pro hockey world Wednesday when another former tough guy battling personal issues, Wade Belak, was found dead in his Toronto condominium.

Belak, who was 35, announced his retirement from hockey in March and was training to compete in “Battle of the Bladers,” a Canadian Broadcasting Company show that is hockey’s version of “Dancing With the Stars.” Dying seeming impossible after he had posted on Twitter on Tuesday night, joking with 2006 Olympic pairs silver medalist Tanith Belbin.