Devils' Ben Lovejoy becomes 1st active NHL player to pledge brain to CTE research

Ben Lovejoy #12 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the first period against the Boston Bruins on November 22, 2017 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (defenseman Ben Lovejoy became the first active NHL to pledge his brain for donation to CTE research.

Lovejoy announced his pledge Thursday after his agent reached out to Concussion Legacy Foundation, which has collected pledges from more than 2,500 athletes and veterans for studying Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and concussions. Lovejoy is the first active NHLer to join that group.

The 33-year-old defenseman said he talked to his wife about donating his brain three or four years ago, but things officially went into…