My experiences with mental health started, probably as soon as I moved away from home at 15, but it never affected me until my 2nd year of midget. Balancing school and hockey was tough, especially dealing with anxiety and depression. As a 2nd-year player in Midget, I was expected to step up, but my mental health made it challenging to be present every day. I didn’t know what to do. My feelings and emotions were taking over my over all well being. Fortunately, my best friend/billet brother and girlfriend provided me crucial support. I didn’t tell my parents because I was scared to let them down. All of these feelings I was having continued into the WHL bubble, where making friends and competing for a lineup spot became overwhelming for me. After the bubble, I struggled through a tough summer alone, realizing I needed help. I was terrified to tell my parents, it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made in my life. The biggest lesson was the importance of a supportive circle. Despite ongoing mental health challenges, having a good support system, especially in hockey, helps relieve stress. For example, being named captain in my town town brought added pressure, but talking to my support system made a world of difference. It’s okay not to be okay, speaking up about your feelings and emotions is the best thing you can do when you are an athlete and struggling.

Mental health should be your top priority as an elite athlete. In a sport that requires high confidence for self actualisation, you have to make sure that you are taking care of yourself mentally just as much as the physical side. It’s hard to wrap your head around this when you are a kid chasing your dreams, experiencing the ups and downs of the season and summer training, let alone being 15,16 years old. The habits and thought patterns that you develop at a young age compound and can dictate your actions and career in a good way or a bad way. So, I try to be as conscious of that as possible. I am a talented fighter and have been put into that role before, so I think I’ve had to deal with negative emotions like anger, fear, hurt, rage, pain and feeling overlooked. I’ve had seasons where I go 20 games without a point but 5 fights during that span, so I would see my worth as being nothing more than a “punching bag”. However, that’s only true if that becomes a mindset, and you stay in the environment that creates those thoughts. It’s important for me to remind myself that I am a talented hockey player, with tons of skills that have gotten me to where I am today.So, before you focus on being the best goal scorer, shut down D or brick wall between the pipes. Focus and be conscious about being the best version of yourself at the start/end of each and every day.

My early struggle with mental health issues intertwined, hindering my ability to speak out. Fearful that speaking out would worsen my situation, I kept my thoughts locked away. As I aged, physical effects manifested, trapping me in isolation and dark contemplation. A supportive group, sadly some no longer a part of my life, saved me from a dark path, and from taking my own life.

Being a high-performing athlete intensified the pressure. Limited options to relieve stress, compounded by Covid’s impact on pivotal years, left me grappling. Athletes face unique mental health challenges, constantly scrutinized and expected to excel. Shifting my mindset became crucial for recovery; initially loathing everything, a mental switch brought progress.

Despite occasional setbacks, such as today’s negative thoughts during practice, flipping the switch remains vital. Adversity can cloud judgment, affecting both me and teammates, and I learned that today. A positive mindset catalyzes progress, while negativity brings detrimental consequences. I continue to learn more and more about how your perspective and attitude can affect yourself and the people around you.

To everyone, keep speaking out and maintain a positive outlook—mental health issues touch everyone; you’re not alone.💚

Hockey wasn’t just a game for me; it was my life since I was a little kid. Everything I did revolved around hockey in some way or another, and my love for the game grew every time I put my skates on.Growing up in a small town and playing hockey, I was always a better player. However, as I progressed to higher levels, it became harder to make the teams I wanted. Like every player, I faced mental and physical struggles at some point in my career. I grappled with negativity, constant self-comparisons, and negative self-talk, making it challenging to enjoy the game.

The first time I experienced this was when I was cut from AA peewee in my first year. To me, that was a turning point in my career, opening up a significant opportunity. I played up with the bantams for the season, winning the league—a great experience. However, seeing my friends playing AA made me work even harder to make it the next year.Playing and aiming for a higher level was my goal, but it came with sacrifices, such as not playing sports I liked or missing weekends at the lake. Setting realistic goals helped me navigate through it. My goal was to play in the SJHL, and I achieved it. Remember to celebrate all victories, big or small.Throughout my career, there were times I had to battle adversity. The first time moving away from home was significant for me, especially as a young kid leaving my parents. Despite challenges, hockey brought positive outcomes like enduring friendships and memories from bus trips and tournaments. My biggest advice is to enjoy it while it lasts, and if you’re struggling, reach out—your parents are always your biggest supporters.

There is always some adversity you have to go through hockey. Whether it is injury’s or struggling to get your confidence up. Battling with mental health through hockey can be such a powerful journey. When you step onto the ice, it’s like entering a whole new world where you can leave your worries behind and focus on the game. Of course it’s not all good, losing confidence is something that many people experience, both in sports and in life. In hockey, there are various factors that can contribute to a loss of confidence. It could be a string of poor performances, making mistakes during a game, or comparing yourself to others. When these things happen, it’s important to remember that confidence is not a fixed trait, but something that can be built and regained. I remember coming to the rink for the last two years asking myself “Am I enjoying this?” It was up until this year that I learned in life if you know you have the people that love you the most by your side and support you, everything will be okay and that it is important to reach out. I would like to thank my Mom, Dad, Scotty Musqua for helping me along the way and DJ for allowing me to share my advice and story. Now I come to the rink everyday excited to get on the ice and see all my teamates. Hockey provides a sense of purpose, a way to channel your emotions, and a supportive community that understands the ups and downs of mental health. Don’t be afraid to share your experience and story! 💚

Growing up playing hockey you play for fun, which I found myself forgetting so many times throughout my career. At a certain level you have to treat it like a job and prepare yourself to play at your top level every game. Nobody is ever their best every single game and those off games wear on you. I spent whole seasons not even thinking about how much fun hockey is to play and stressing about every game, save, win, and loss. Reminding myself why I play was a huge factor in why I’m at where I am today.

I’ve been fortunate that I’ve played in 7 different countries, had so many incredible teammates, and memories that will last forever. There’s days where I miss home, when I miss out on holidays with my loved ones, big events with my friends and family, or just feeling alone in a foreign country where I don’t understand the language my teammates speak. Having supportive friends and family who keep in touch with FaceTimes and video games has been a huge part of keeping that positivity.

Appreciating the little things, and reminding myself to recognize how lucky I am to be in a competitive league and being paid to play hockey. There’s gonna be ups and downs but only worrying about what I can control is key. I can’t control when the bus arrives, what calls the refs make, or how many goals we score. But I can control my work ethic, and my attitude so I don’t have to regret anything and I can have fun every time I step on the ice.

I believe that every hockey player goes through some sort of mental health battle during their careers. It’s inevitable at some point. Maybe the coach is being hard on you, or you have had a tough couple of games. The pucks not bouncing your way. The common way to react is being really hard on ourselves. I’m guilty of it just like the next guy. Throughout my career I’ve struggled to be kind to myself and to move onto the next shift after a bad one, the more I do it, and the more positive I can be on a daily basis on and off the ice the better off I am. It all starts with the mental side of it. If you can be clear and focused, you can succeed. Without that you’re no good to your teammates or coaches, and you definitely won’t be able to be the player you can be!

Look at the positives even during the hardest times. Not everyone gets an opportunity to play hockey, and to play it at a high level is even more of a blessing. Don’t look back and regret it because of stubbornness. Stick to a routine that works for you and put the time in for yourself and for everyone around you.

As a teenager, I often heard, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.’ We often use blanket statements and catchphrases, but why does no one explain or tell you why?

Imagine a hockey rink – filled with brisk cold air, the sound of Zambonis, the crowd cheering, your favorite music in the dressing room, maybe some karaoke, and the sound of laughter with some of your best friends and teammates. The same people you go to hell and back with.

I started skating at age 3 with my brother, on the rink my dad built in our backyard. Since age 3, my whole life had been consumed by my identity as a hockey player and an athlete. Hockey always came first.

What I didn’t know was how much hockey protected me from emotion and having to face reality. Hockey protected me by allowing me to escape. Any bad or difficult thing in my life was temporarily forgotten on the ice. This ability to escape led to many wonderful accomplishments throughout my career, especially competing at the Division I level.

But what happens when the place that’s safe and protecting you and giving you that outlet becomes challenging or that chapter of your life comes to an end? Because hockey was my whole identity, if I wasn’t performing, it felt like my world was crashing down.  Looking back on my younger years with more knowledge, wisdom, and life experience, I now know why people say, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.’ As a counselor, I take pride in helping my clients find their why to their questions and curiosities to help create meaning and purpose.

Being an athlete was 100% of my identity and when things weren’t going well, I felt lost, hopeless, and scared. Once I pushed myself outside my comfort zone, I became involved in extracurricular activities and pursued friendships outside my world as an athlete.

That shift helped me notice that when I wasn’t performing, or things weren’t going well, there was more to me besides being an athlete. I am now a counselor, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, professor, and more. I’m a human being with many different aspects that make up my identity.

Becoming a world champion is not easy, attending university is not easy, running ironman races is not easy. But you know what is the hardest challenge? Overcoming adversity, and fighting mental demons within yourself. That is one of the most challenging obstacles anyone can face.

My goal is to share my story, speak up and be an advocate for eating disorder recovery. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I had to. I am grateful for the journey of my recovery because it is leading me to becoming the strongest, happiest, and best version of myself everyday.

To give you a quick glimpse into my story…I went from being an outpatient client at an eating disorder clinic to becoming a world champion with my skating team and now training for Ironman races.

Now I can eat, I can enjoy it, but everyday I need to stand tall, fight the thoughts, and remind myself recovery is worth it. It is not easy constantly duelling with the mental demons in my head, but through years of learning how to eat and how to have self-compassion and appreciation for myself, I am now living a fulfilled and happy life.

My heart breaks knowing that thousands of people are still fighting the demons in their heads. It breaks my heart to know how many lives are taken due to an eating disorder. I was blessed to have the support, endless help and resources to hold my hand and lead me through recovery. So many people do not have this privilege.

My goal in life is to be happy, healthy, and be on a continuous journey of self-discovery. I want to show others how beautiful life can be and to always choose to keep going. I am here for each and every one of you. If ever you need a chat, please don’t ever hesitate to reach out. We are all in this crazy life together.