It was March 2018. It should have been a glorious month. Seabrook played his 1,000th career NHL game on March 29, 2018.
But just two weeks before that, his world was rocked with the unforgettable news that one of his closest friends from back home in British Columbia, his longtime trainer Scott Hebert, had taken his own life at the age of 47.
“It was tough,” Seabrook told The Athletic, opening up about it for the first time. “One of the toughest things I had to deal with at that point in my life. Scotty was one of those guys that was full of life, full of energy.”
They met at a WHL game when Seabrook was 15 where they were watching a mutual friend play. Hebert was the player’s trainer.
A friend’s father who was at the game asked a young Seabrook what part of his game he had to work on next. Seabrook blurted something out. Then Hebert interjected.
“He snapped his head around and said, ‘You and me, we got to talk,'” Seabrook said. “That was sort of the start of it. We started training a couple of times a week together.’’
Then began an 18-year journey. A close bond. A trust. Hebert was Seabrook’s guy.
“He was very knowledgeable, full of energy. And he made it fun,’’ Seabrook said. “Every day we went to the gym, we worked hard but it was always fun. He was just a special guy.’’
They spent much time together over the years, parties, dinners, you name it.
“He was usually the life of the party. Just a special guy. One of those people I was thankful to have in my life,’’ Seabrook said.
On the morning of March 17, 2018, Hebert took his own life. Seabrook heard the news from his father.
