The Ranch is a true testament of a dream becoming a reality through faith and resolve. The death of my son Brock and subsequent passing of good friend and teammate Mark, devastated me. Gratefully, this gave me an opportunity like never before. I could stay in the prison cell of trauma or fight my way out and use it as a turning point to become someone I never was. A stronger and better version of myself to help others. It’s not easy to be that man every day, but it is my goal. Live to fight another day and be kind to yourself.

Being involved with The Ranch: Teammates For Life is very meaningful for me as a former player that has struggled immensely with mental illness. Personally I know that if I had a place to go to heal I would not have tried to take my own life in 1998, but by the grace of God I am still here and believe I was spared for the purpose of helping those that are still suffering.

Having personally witnessed a family member go through mental health issues which resulted in suicide and then to watch a fellow teammate, Minnesotan, and gold medal hockey player suffer the same fate, the question was never ‘if’ I could help but ‘how’ I was going to help. Supporting the Ranch is my way of personally being a force for good by giving back to those who suffer with the devastating effects of mental illness. We are all teammates playing on this planet together – let’s root for each other and make a difference as a force for good in each other’s lives.

As an athlete who has at times struggled with my own mental health, I know how difficult it can be to cope with mental health issues. I also know that support from family and friends can be vital to someone’s mental health journey. This is why I’m passionate about supporting athletes who struggle. I’ve joined forces with The Ranch to share my story and promote mental health advocacy.