Corey Hirsch

Corey Hirsch was a former NHL Goaltender, NHL Goaltending Coach, and Olympic Silver Medalist. Much of his NHL career was plagued with panic attacks and obsessive thoughts. After confiding in a team trainer who guided him to find the help he needed, Corey was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

In 2017, Corey publicly shared his gripping story with an emotional article in The Players Tribune. It was a riveting article on his life as a suicide survivor and an individual living with OCD. The article received an overwhelming response sending ripples through the sports world.

Corey uses his life experiences to help raise awareness about mental health issues in the hockey community. He hopes that by bringing mental health struggles into the light, stigmas that have formed around them will be reduced, and silent sufferers will seek help and comfort they need- and deserve. +

It was the spring of 1994. Corey Hirsch was just 21 years old and had just backstopped Canada to a silver medal at the Olympics and was now a roster member of the New York Rangers on the way to the Stanley Cup Final. It should have been the time of his life. Should have been, but it wasn’t. Corey’s brain was on fire, wracked with deep, dark, intrusive thoughts. He +called his mother and begged her to come to New York to help. His Mom had never been to New York, but rather than looking forward to the sights of the city, she was terrified of what was waiting for her. He took her to see the city from the top of the Empire State Building.

They stood on the observation deck 102 floors above the streets and looked out at New York for a few moments. While his Mother was looking out at the horizon, Corey Hirsch turned and looked directly at his mother. He said… “I wish I could jump.” A few weeks later, the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup, their first in 54 years. Corey would fulfill a childhood dream by drinking champagne from the Stanley Cup.

A few weeks after that, he would try to take his own life. Corey Hirsch is a former NHL Goaltender, NHL Goaltending Coach, and Olympic Silver Medalist. He is an engaging speaker and host, that educates, motivates, and inspires his audience. He gives hope to those struggling with their mental health as he makes it ok to not be ok.

Corey Hirsch was drafted by the New York Rangers in 1991 and was an active roster member of the 1994 New York Rangers Stanley Cup Championship team. Traded to Vancouver in 1995, he played in over 100 NHL games, making stops in Nashville, Washington and Dallas. During his early years in the NHL, Corey suffered with severe panic attacks and depression. Due to the stigma, Corey hid his struggles in the NHL for more than 3 years, and once made an attempt on his own life.

He finally reached out to a team trainer, was diagnosed with OCD, and got the help he needed. Today Corey is thriving. He has 3 children, and is the NHL broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks. Corey Hirsch has since dedicated his life to mental health and advocating to end the stigma. He is also a certified life coach.--

The Save of My Life: My Journey Out of the Dark

In this inspiring keynote Corey shares his personal journey of excelling professionally but out of the net, he was plagued by persistent dark thoughts and ceaseless anxiety. As one of the first professional athletes to talk openly about mental health, Hirsch wrote about his OCD for the Players’ Tribune. His piece remains one of their most-read articles ever.
As Hirsch says, “I am not insane. I am not a bad person. I am not weak. I have an illness, and there is a treatment.”

Mental Health: The Lived Experience

During his time in the NHL, Corey wore a mask to hide his illness to protect his image. Corey illustrates the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues. An advocate for open dialogue, Corey discusses ways to communicate mental illness to friends and family.

Motivation & Resilience: Ups,Downs and Lessons Learned

Despite living with undiagnosed mental issues, Corey was able to both play and coach in the NHL. Now, he encourages and inspires audiences through his personal story. Corey will share ways to stay motivated in any headspace.

Teamwork: From the Locker Room to the Office: Game Plans for Success

The former NHL star and Olympic silver-medalist takes his hockey experiences learned on and off the ice and implements them into the business world. Learn how tactics used in the locker room can translate into your business!

For more information on Corey Hirsch's speaking schedule and booking speaker Corey Hirsch contact us.