WASHINGTON — Blake Wheeler was at the mercy of Jay Harrison when his former Jets teammates began launching FirstLine, a health and wellness program through the NHL Players Association.
Wheeler could help promote or support it, but he was determined to help realize Harrison's vision.
Mental health has been at the forefront for Wheeler over the past few years.
He was experiencing some key career-changing moments as his time in Winnipeg drew to a close, including being stripped of the captaincy as the club announced a culture change.
“It's been a lifelong thing for me, but it's only really come to the surface in the last few years,” Wheeler told the Post, sitting in his room in St. Louis' locker room. “At that time, I had to do something on my own, but once I was able to reach out a little bit and ask for help and talk to people, things started to really start looking up for me. That's sometimes the hardest part.
“Fight, fight, fight until you can tell and share your experience with someone. It's only when you really know what's going on or how the situation could potentially be improved. It’s difficult.”
The Rangers forward was one of the first 20 NHLPA members to complete front-line training led by Harrison, the association's health, transition and performance expert.
It was a face-to-face, informal discussion-based session lasting several hours.
Players were able to reflect on their experiences and how it can influence other players in the league.
Studies have found that up to 35 percent of elite athletes suffer from a mental health crisis.
So NHLPA, in collaboration with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, developed an education and leadership program aimed at strengthening the mental health knowledge and skills of its members.
MHCC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization committed to “improving the mental health of all Canadians.”
Wheeler had kept in touch with Harrison during his playing days, and the Americans recognized the importance of his friend's work.
His own experience gave him a deeper understanding.
The biggest thing for Wheeler was finding the will to not face his problems alone and having the strength to ask for help.
He now wants to help other players do the same and change their lives for the better.
“I think the bottom line is that it's like a middleman,” Wheeler said. “Often these conversations are withheld simply because men are afraid. Young men, it's hard to express your emotions in the first place. Second, where is that information going? I don't know how it can be used against me or against me.
“So the real philosophy behind it is to make it easier for the players to create an entry point for them to talk as team-mates, and if there's anything that needs to be addressed or they need help, it's important to have players who have finished training I think it's about making sure that we're able to help guide people in the right direction so that these things don't simmer under the surface for a long time. ”
The Rangers have recalled Anton Breid from AHL Hartford as a precaution ahead of this weekend's back-to-back game against Washington.
The Rangers, who were forced to play with 11 forwards and seven defensemen against the Blues due to Mika Zibanejad's prolonged illness, will want to make sure they have the numbers just in case.
