My name is Brady Leavold. Like so many Canadian kids growing up in Port Coquitlam, B.C., I dreamed of making it to the NHL. Whether I would’ve made it, I’ll never know—but I do know I was a promising player whose battles with addiction and mental health cost me that dream and nearly my life. My struggles stemmed from childhood trauma. At just five years old, I was sexually abused. That experience haunted me through my teens and into adulthood. For years, I buried the pain, masking it with destructive behaviors while chasing success in hockey. The game became my escape—my safe space. Hours spent in the driveway perfecting my shot gave me relief from the nightmares that lived inside my head. At 16, I joined the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League. Despite being named Rookie of the Year, I quietly left mid-season for what would now be recognized as a mental health break. The next year, I quit completely. Not long after, I was introduced to drugs—and everything changed. I fought my way back onto the Broncos as a 19-year-old and later earned a contract with Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. I was one step away from the NHL. But off the ice, I was falling apart. Addiction, fueled by painkillers prescribed after a knee injury, quickly took hold. What started as physical pain management became emotional survival. I spiraled fast—heroin, crime, multiple suicide attempts, psychiatric stays, and eventually, homelessness on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. By 2015, I was completely lost. Once known for hockey, I became known for appearances on Crime Stoppers. I was arrested, convicted, and spent nearly two years in prison. My family told me it was the first time in years they knew where I was—and that I was safe. After my release, I tried to rebuild. I moved to Ontario, but addiction followed. More jail time came. It wasn’t until I truly surrendered—admitting I needed help—that things slowly started to change. In February 2020, I laced up my skates for the first time in nearly a decade. That moment reignited my purpose. I started sharing my story, launching a podcast about my journey and recovery. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. Stories from around the hockey world started pouring in—players, coaches, families—sharing similar struggles with mental health and addiction. Some survived, many didn’t. When I learned my close friend and former teammate Mitch Fadden died of a fentanyl overdose, I knew I had to do something. That moment sparked the creation of **Puck Support**—a network dedicated to providing support, education, and resources to the hockey community. From the NHL to minor hockey, mental health and addiction impact every level of the game. Puck Support exists to honour those we’ve lost and support those still struggling. Our clothing line features the names of players, coaches, and others in the hockey community who lost their battles. Each piece serves as a reminder of why this work matters. I’ve built this from the ground up—website, clothing, heat press—all of it. I’ve been blessed with some help along the way, but the mission is bigger than me. There are countless people in our game silently suffering, and I won’t stop until I’ve done everything in my power to reach them. Today, I’m proud to say I’m in recovery—substance-free since **February 8, 2020**. It’s a milestone I once thought impossible. My purpose now is to serve the hockey community and ensure no one feels as alone as I once did. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I truly believe that together, we can change lives—and save them. _"Have a great day, if you so choose."_ **Brady Leavold** Founder – Puck Support Co. & The Puck Support Network