Former NHL:er Jere Karalahti had a long career. Big successes but also many scandals. Now he is talking about the heavy time in an autobiography. “I was often so gone that I could not even skate,” writes Karalahti.
Finnish defenceman Jere Karalahti played in some of the top hockey leagues in the world. He spent time in the KHL, Finnish league, SHL and recorded 149 games in the NHL with Los Angeles and Nashville. He also represented Finland at the international level, capturing 3-silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Championships. It’s no secret that Karalahti had a successful playing career, which spanned over 20 years. Despite capturing numerous championships and hockey accolades, many Finnish hockey fans associate him with headlines about his addiction.
His published autobiography “Jere” goes into the depths of his alcohol and drug abuse. His issues began in Helsinki and escalated once he was in the NHL. “I was often so gone that I could not even skate”.
Karalahti’s issues off the ice became problematic on the ice. In 2002 Karalahti was suspended for six months by the NHL for a drug violation. “In Nashville, I stayed for a month and played fifteen games. In practice, I got a lot of ice time every other night, but was drunk 75 percent of the time, or at least had a big hangover.” Over those 15 games, Karalahti tallied one assist and was a -1.
After his suspension from the NHL, Karalahti returned to Finland to play professionally. There were rumors that he would try and make a comeback to the NHL, but that never came to fruition. He played his last professional season from 2015-2016 in Sweden.
