In the first edition of the Inherent Risk Podcast Group Discussion we bring together our team and three guests from this season to talk about the inherent risks in sport and the culture around concussions in hockey. We brought back Alley Goodreau, Molly Tissenbaum and Tyler Brower to dive further into their experiences with concussions in hockey and how it has impacted lives away from the game. This group discussion marks the end of the first season of the Inherent Risk Podcast, we would like to extend our thanks to all the guests who took the time to share their experiences with us and our listeners who are dedicated to learning more about concussions in sport! 

Jhaelyn is a former competitive dancer who shares her experiences with concussions and the process she went through to find a new purpose in her life as an advocate. She is currently a student that is focusing on becoming a doctor, with the goal of opening up her own concussion recovery facility one day to help people that suffer from the injury the way she did. Throughout the episode, we discuss the stigma associated with concussions in sports, her difficulties in finding the right therapy, and the importance of talking about mental health. Jhaelyn is a tremendous advocate for concussion and mental health awareness and her story is truly inspirational.

Bob is a former professional hockey player and the founder of "I Got Mind", a platform focused on promoting awareness and education around mental health in sports. He played 18 NHL games for the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers, and 11 seasons of professional hockey, where he suffered numerous concussions and witnessed many friends and opponents suffering in silence as he did. In 1986 he was a member of the Swift Current Broncos team, whose bus crashed tragically killing four of his teammates. The toll that this tragedy took on him was traumatic, and he dealt with mental health complications throughout his entire career as a result. Upon retiring he transitioned into coaching youth hockey and eventually created I Got Mind in 2008 to help make a difference to the next generation of athletes and educate them on the role mental health plays in sports.

Max is a former coworker of Joel's and is currently the founder of Liebs. And Co, a company focused on creating awareness and education in the workplace for people with disabilities.  He shares his experiences with concussions growing up both in and out of sports; his time as a semi-professional wrestler and the lack of proper concussion treatment in that industry; the challenges of being in the workplace with a disability; and ultimately what inspired and lead to him creating the wonderful platform he has today with Liebs and Co. He is doing important work and is making the world more inclusive for everyone everyday.

Cory is a former AAA/Junior A hockey player and Minor Hockey Coach who shares with us his experiences with concussions growing up and how they ultimately derailed his ambitions of playing professional hockey. Upon retiring from his playing career, he transitioned into coaching AAA and witnessed a negative culture around concussions and how brain injuries are both dealt with and managed. We discussed our love for the game but the loss of identity when forced to retire, mental health in the sport of hockey, and ways to make the game safer for the next generation. Cory was also a teammate of mine during our days at the University of Guelph, the place where I got my first concussion in intramural contact hockey.

Tyler is former professional hockey player and concussion awareness advocate who talks about his struggles with concussions from youth hockey into his adult life and ultimately finding a new purpose and identity away from the ice as a talented photographer and storyteller. He opens up about the challenges of concussion recovery in youth sports and the lack of awareness he experienced, the differences in hockey culture playing in several different countries, and how finding faith in God gave him purpose and helped steer him in the right direction when dealing with post-concussion syndrome. Tyler has great passion and charisma in how he advocates for concussion awareness and its people like him who continue to make a difference in the world of sport.

Molly is a former NCAA goalie for the Harvard University Women’s Hockey Team. She shares her story about how concussions have impacted her career from youth hockey all the way through to her time at Harvard. She opens up about the importance of being a good teammate, not hiding or pushing through your symptoms, the difficulties student/athletes face when dealing with concussions and ways that the stigma around the injury can be challenged. A powerful voice for the brain injury community, Molly had the honour of speaking on the legislative floor and sharing her story when Rowan’s Law was passed in Ontario, which is a bill focused on concussion prevention in youth sports. This has fueled her passion for speaking out and sharing her concussion story as much as possible in hopes of creating awareness and education for the next generation.

Mike is a former NCAA/AHL hockey player and current Head Coach and General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. The son of hockey broadcasting legend Bob McKenzie, Mike has grown up through a life of hockey, first as a player and now on the management/coaching side. Concussions have had a big impact on his family, both in his own playing career and through watching his  younger brother Shawn’s hockey career end far too early while playing minor hockey. Combine his own experience and a depth of hockey knowledge from his father, Mike has turned into a  forward-thinker who understands the risks of concussions in sports and that health must come first at all times. He is a passionate, well-spoken man who is making a huge impact on youth hockey and finding ways to shift hockey culture.