Mental Health Initiatives

It’s not often that you meet an individual whom you have a connection to, but over the course of this past season while doing the play by play for the Greater Vancouver Canadians one such individual wants to make a sincere difference.

Yes he plays hockey in the BCMML for the Caribou Cougars and currently they are in the playoffs for the Telus Cup in their home City of Prince George and we wish them all the best.

Given the fact that they defeated the GV Canadians in the league finals allowing them to advance, but it did go to a full three game series.

We are hearing about that ever dreaded “concussion” issue that everyone is talking about and while most (not all) are taking it serious some are failing to enforce the rule according to Hockey Canada and the Chin Straps.

Some players (not all) are playing with the strap hanging down like in the NHL, which isn’t the intent of the rule, so if you’re a Coach – think again!!

I know that this will not prevent a Concussion, but it might just help and if only one, that is why the rule was put in place.

Now back to my earlier point of “Spreading The Word” and using the time to get the word out on Mental Health Initiatives and giving support and hope to everyone who deals with this.   

The following is an article that was posted on the Hockey Canada site and I for one urge you to “think twice” about getting involved as it’s an exceptional worthwhile cause and I strongly support everything that Myles has undertaken as it’s not easy.

Thanks to his Father for being in contact with me over the past while.

From Hockey Canada website:

Myles Mattila and the Cariboo Cougars are currently playing in the TELUS Cup in Prince George and Mattila will be using this opportunity to both support and promote the issue of mental health initiatives spreading the message of hope.

A few years ago Mattila, who has been passionate about hockey for as long as the 18-year-old can remember, noticed a dramatic change in a close friend and teammate.

After initially being told everything was okay, Mattila pressed on and eventually his friend opened up: he was in a rut, felt unhappy and couldn’t shake it.

“It was tough seeing such a good friend go through that and not knowing what was wrong,” said Mattila, a Grade 12 student from Prince George. “He needed help and it was eye opening for me not knowing what to do. I realized he likely wasn’t alone in this situation and I vowed to figure out how to help him and anyone else struggling with mental health issues.”

He began volunteering at a local mental health office and participating in youth programs, and he’s now a mental health advocate forMindcheck.ca, partners with the Canadian Mental Health Association and the driving force behind Mindright.info, a health wellness program designed to educate Cariboo Cougars players, coaches, parents, and supporters about their mental health and the health of others.

Not surprisingly, his efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

In 2015, Mattila was the recipient of the YMCA Youth Initiative of the Year Award and was the first beneficiary of the Northern Health Community Health Star program.

He was also a torchbearer at the Canada Winter Games, and was nominated for a Champions of Wellness Award.

His achievements on the ice, in the classroom, and within the community were recognized last year as well, as he won a Mac’s AAA Midget Tournament Scholarship and was nominated for the Young Male Volunteer of the Year Award in Kelowna.

As part of the TELUS Cup, Mattila will speak at the awards banquet on April 29. He’s excited to speak of life outside of hockey to reinforce how important mental health is to being healthy overall.

“I enjoy speaking to peers about these issues because it’s coming from someone who understands what they’re going through right now in their lives,” said Mattila. “There are pressures from school and sports and just growing up in general. That can become overwhelming and you need to know where to turn for help.

“I hope I can engage the players competing in the tournament and spread the message that you’re not alone in what you’re going through.

Hopefully the coaches and GMs hear that and realize this is a big stage for their players and it’s important to have resources to help them.”

Mattila speaks highly of his latest endeavour, Mindright.info, thanking Cougars GM and head coach Trevor Sprague, and his wife Jessie, for helping design and launch the site, which the B.C. Major Midget League will soon take over and make a league initiative.

Sprague is amazed at not only the player, but also the person Mattila is.

“There’s no question when he was trying out for our hockey club that he was a guy who is going to wear a letter, just the way he portrays himself and his confidence is great,” said Sprague. “He has a lot on his plate and there’s never any excuses from him. That’s tremendous.”

“The guys joke that he’s the spokesperson for our team, always in front of cameras doing interviews. He’s well respected by his peers. He’s a good leader and a quality person to everyone in the room; his attention to detail in his community endeavours is excellent, plus he’s a straight-A student.”

All that without mentioning the 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward is a tenacious player with unmatched work ethic and a physical bite that will help the Cougars in their quest for the TELUS Cup.

Mattila understands the impact he can have as a role model and he’s clearly taking it seriously. That won’t stop when his minor hockey career finishes at season’s end.

Next fall he’ll begin his post-secondary education in Kelowna, pursuing a business degree in management with his sights set on one day becoming a lawyer, maybe.

“That stuff will all come together, I’ll figure it out, but I know for sure I’ll be promoting mental health and working closely with the Canadian Mental Health Association to raise awareness and help end the stigma associated with mental illness.”

As for the Cougars and their hopes of winning the TELUS Cup as the host team, Mattila is confident he and the boys will make some noise, thoughts echoed by Sprague.

Visit the site and help spread the word from Sportswave!!!

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2017-TELUS-Cup-RTTC-Central-Region