Clint Malarchuk (Near Death on the Ice and Post Traumatic Growth) - Episode 277

Behind The Shield

Clint Malarchuk is an NHL veteran as both a goalie and coach, author and mental health advocate. Clint cheated death three times, one notoriously when he almost bled out on the ice after taking a skate to the neck. We discuss his childhood mental health challenges, outworking the competition, OCD, addiction, suicide, EMDR, recovery, post traumatic growth and much more.

Hockey is notorious for its rough play even among a long list of contact sports, and the life of a professional athlete is demanding even at the best of times. For over a decade Clint was a National and International Hockey League goaltender, making his debut at just twenty years old. In 1989 he suffered a cut to his jugular vein from the blade of another player’s skate. Just ten days later Clint was back on the ice, continuing to play the game he loved while suffering from undiagnosed PTSD. After years of overcoming mental illness and surviving a suicide attempt, Clint is a mental health advocate dedicated to erasing the stigma surrounding mental health and sharing his story to help those who need hope and a voice.

Clint was born in Alberta Canada, where he played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He then went on to play professionally in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Buffalo Sabres, and in the International Hockey League (IHL) for the San Diego Gulls and Las Vegas Thunder. After retiring as a player, he went on to serve as both head coach and goaltending coach for several teams. Throughout the decades he dedicated to the game, he was awarded the Punch Imlack Award and was inducted into the New York Hockey Hall of Fame.

After recovering from his suicide attempt, Clint turned to public speaking, shining a light on mental illness. He has spoken at a Canadian Mental Health Association meeting and the International OCD Foundation conference in Boston, MA. In 2014 he released his book The Crazy Game - How I Survived the Crease and Beyond, which talks about OCD, alcoholism recovery, trauma, and suicide prevention. He now resides in Carson Valley, Nevada, where he lives on his ranch and practices equine dentistry.

Clints story is singular, showing not only the trauma that rises from a life-threatening injury but also the relentless strength of one individual to face mental illness and help others do the same. As a mental health advocate and renowned public speaker, Clint tells his heartfelt life story, discussing his battles with mental illness and the stigma that those who suffer it face. He focuses on motivating people to keep fighting, speaking to the importance of team building, goal setting, personal development, and leadership.