Blackhawks Duncan Keith Discusses his Difficult Divorce

Duncan Keith won the Conn Smythe trophy for the playoffs MVP as well as the Stanley Cup. From a hockey standpoint, this past season was amazing for the Chicago Blackhawks defender. However, his personal life was full of hardships. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Keith opened up about going through a divorce and the rumors that surfaced regarding former teammate Patrick Sharp:

I'm not going to lie. It has been a long year and extremely difficult. I know there was talk about throughout the year regarding Sharpie and my ex-wife, but that was complete fabrication as well. My divorce had nothing to do with anything except what's between me and Kelly-Rae, and that's where I'd like to keep it.

The 32 year old explained that dealing with his hardships meant finding sanctuary in the form of "turning the switch to hockey." He seemed sad about the departure of Patrick Sharp, Johnny Oduya and Brandon Saad:

Anytime you play with someone for a long period of time you're going to develop a chemistry, a bond and friendship and I was really close with those three guys. Sharpie and I played alongside each other for 10 years. It's tough to say goodbye...

These hardships serve as a reminder that summers aren't just for recovering from the long hockey season. They are also an opportunity for players to be with their families.