Ex-Rocket suing WHL

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A former captain of the Kelowna Rockets is part of a class-action lawsuit against the WHL, Canadian Hockey League and Hockey Canada.

James McEwan played two seasons with the Rockets from 2006 to 2008, after two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He was the team's captain during the 2007-2008 season.

McEwan, a Kelowna native, is named in the suit filed in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver.

In a story posted on TSN, McEwan claims he was not given proper medical care after he was engaged in dozens of fights over his junior career.

He says he is now showing symptoms of CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

“Mr. McEwan began experiencing severe depression, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, confusion, angry outbursts, and suicidal thoughts,” according to his claim filed on Wednesday.

"(They) should have known, or ought to have known, that multiple sub concussive and concussive blows to the head would lead to long term injury including but not limited to memory loss, dementia, depression, and CTE and its related symptoms.”

In November, the NHL reached a tentative $18.9 million settlement with more than 300 of its players who had sued the league for failing to protect them from head injuries.

The National Football League could pay out as much as $1.5 billion to more than 20,000 retired players who suffered concussion symptoms.