The survivor of one of the most gruesome hockey injuries, Clint Malarchuk, will speak at the TRU WolfPack Scholarship Breakfast on September 24 inside the Grand Hall in the Campus Activity Centre.
 
"When we were searching for a speaker this year, there was one name that stood out to us," WolfPack Director of Athletics and Recreation Curtis Atkinson said. "Clint has lived a remarkable life. A lot of people remember the horrific on-ice incident, but he also struggled with mental health issues both during and after his time in the NHL. I think his story is applicable to many people, including our student-athletes, and could help someone out if they are faced with similar challenges."
 
Malarchuk miraculously survived a life-threatening cut to his neck from Steve Tuttle's skate blade in 1989 when he was in net for the Buffalo Sabres. He returned to the crease 10 days later, but the worst was only beginning. The NHL veteran of 141 wins battled two decades of mental health issues before eventually finding help.
 
The Grande Prairie, AB, native goes through those stories and many more in his autobiography, The Crazy Game: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond, which was published in 2014.
 
These days, Malarchuk is a horse dentist in between doing mental health speaking events across North America.
 
"Clint has seen it all: he played at the highest level possible, went through a terrible accident, battled post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Our athletes might not have gone through everything that he has gone through, but we know he's not alone. We want our athletes to know it's okay to ask for help," Atkinson said. "We are there to support them emotionally and mentally, as well as academically and athletically."
 
The WolfPack are hoping Malarchuk will draw quite a crowd, as the annual Scholarship Breakfast is the premier fundraising event on the 'Pack's calendar. Last year, the WolfPack raised slightly over $150,000 from public support and help from the university. In the past, TRU has matched funds for athletic scholarships.
 
Tickets are available now through the WolfPack website. With only 400 seats available, tickets will be at a premium with Malarchuk in attendance.
 
Doors for the event open at 6:30 a.m. Speeches begin shortly after 7 a.m. with the event wrapping up just before 8:30 a.m.