Watch the video above: Former OHL player starts web campaign to help those with depression. Cindy Pom reports.
TORONTO – The death of Saginaw Spirit forward Terry Trafford has touched many in the hockey community but the impact was felt most profoundly by former OHL player Corey Bricknell.
The Port Perry resident battled mental health issues throughout his hockey career and recently started an online support group called “Fighting the Truth” to help fellow players deal with the problems they are facing on and off the ice.
“Being a tough guy you just want to say, ‘Ok, I’m tough and I’ll deal with it.’ So I turned to the bottle, to alcohol to deal with it and it was tough during my hockey career,” Bricknell said during an interview with Craig Needles on AM980.
READ MORE: Body of missing OHL player Terry Trafford found in Michigan
Police said Trafford died earlier this month of self-inflicted asphyxiation inside his car parked outside a Wal-Mart store in Michigan.
The Toronto native’s body was found March 12. He disappeared eight days earlier after receiving discipline from the club.
Bricknell heard of the story and began the process of creating an awareness campaign with help from former teammate, Corey Isen.
The two recently launched a Facebook page and Twitter account with the goal of reaching young hockey players with mental health issues.
“We want to eliminate the option of suicide, we want to get that out of the game, and out of the world,” Bricknell said. “Just to make it aware that other people are going through this. There are ways to help yourself with your everyday living.”
Bricknell says part of the coping and healing process is being able to have an outlet for players to express themselves through an online forum and provide resources for those in need.
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