Everyone runs through issues in life, whether related to one’s family, health, or other. Some issues are worse and last longer than others. For Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Dowell, it has not been easy.

Jake Dowell was drafted in the 5th round of the 2004 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He played his first game on November 22, 2007 with the Chicago Blackhawks, a game in which he also scored his first goal. His family was not at the game but they were by the television cheering him on.

Jake Dowell is known for his grit, toughness, his prowess in the face-off circle, and he fits in perfectly as a good fourth line centre. He sticks up for teammates, bringing the energy and dishing out consequences to his opponents should the situation call for it. But what you see on the ice is completely different than the man off it.

Toughness of Habs Forward Jake Dowell Felt Off the Ice

The 29-year-old-has been watching his only brother as well as his father battle Huntington disease for most of his life. Huntington Disease is a neurological disorder that slowly shuts down your body (with varying rates of deterioration), and to this point is incurable.

Dowell’s father recently passed away from the disease in February 2014. Dowell told Startribune in February, “This was almost a 13-year struggle that he was dealing with. The last couple months were really hard to watch him deteriorate. In the end now, it’s nice to have some closure and know he’s not struggling anymore.”

Dowell mentioned to the site that in recent months his father was quickly deteriorating. He was unable to eat by himself and eventually ended up with dementia.

Dowell’s brother, who is in his early 30s, is in his final stages from battling with the disorder. His brother also suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The thing about this disease is once it runs in the family, a parent has a 50% chance of passing it on to their children. Dowell has yet to be tested but has admitted he is scared of knowing, but at the same time has come to be emotionally immune to it.

Dowell told the Minneapolis Star Tribune in September 2013, “Absolutely, I’m scared,” “It scares the heck out of me to look at my dad and brother and think that potentially one day could be me. I try to be realistic about it, but I also have kind of gone numb to the whole thing. I don’t get really emotional about it anymore.”

Dowell got married in 2012 to Carly Sturges. They hope to soon plan a family, but before they do that they will get the test done to see if Dowell carries the Huntington gene. If he does, they have other options and if he doesn’t, his family especially his mom and wife will be relieved.

Dowell was hoping to get the test done during the summer of 2014, but according to an article from La Presse he has not yet done it. Instead he is taking his time to focus on his career, family-helping his mother and his ailing brother. When the time is right he will have the test done (likely in the summer). He has said in many interviews he would be to stressed to have it done during a hockey season and not knowing his future.

Dowell has played 157 NHL games, recorded 11 goals and 22 assists. He signed a one-year AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens organization. He has been trying to prove his worthiness at the Habs training camp and he is doing just that. Expect him to start the season with the Hamilton Bulldogs, but who knows what could happen later in the year.

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