Former Canuck Corey Hirsch joins Hockey Canada board 'to create a better space for our youth' (2024)

Hockey Canada, and hockey in Canada, needs a cultural shift.

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And Corey Hirsch wants to help lead the way.

The former Vancouver Canucks goaltender has worn many hats: parent, coach, broadcaster and realtor. Becoming a mental-health advocate has become his passion.

And he’s now adding national sport organization board member to the list.

Hirsch, 51, was elected last weekend to Hockey Canada’s board, joining an impressive list of eight Canadians who have stepped forward to lead the national organization.

A year ago, facing a torrent of criticism over the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct by national team players, as well as sponsors walking away in response, the board and Hockey Canada’s CEO resigned. An interim board stepped forward, but last week’s election was about permanent appointments.

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Hirsch has been focused on his new career as a mental-health advocate and public speaker since stepping away from broadcasting in 2021 — his last gig was as radio colour commentator on Sportsnet 650’s Vancouver Canucks broadcasts. Hockey Canada is an opportunity to bring his new-found skill set to an organization that he’s long been a part of.

“I’ve sat in those locker rooms, I’ve been to every Hockey Canada-sanctioned tournament. I know what it’s like,” he said.

Hirsch starred for the Kamloops Blazers in the early 1990s. He was the goalie for Canada at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, where the Canadians lost in the gold medal game to Sweden in a shootout.

After retiring, he worked as a goalie coach with Hockey Canada.

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“I’m on a goddamned stamp!” he joked.

When Hockey Canada put out its call for board nominations earlier this fall, Hirsch saw an opportunity to make change. As a mental-health advocate who’s been speaking about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder for six years, he’s often mentioned how society needs to change, to be more understanding of the mental-health battles, especially young people.

Hockey was always a lifeline and a guiding force for him, even in his darkest moments. His OCD consumed his thoughts, especially in the mid-to-late 1990s, when he struggled to perform and missed games.

But it was fellow players who helped him find his way forward.

“I say this everywhere, hockey saved my life. We’re beating the crap out of it but hockey itself isn’t the problem. We’ve got to weed out the bad actors, who are making it bad for others,” he said.

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“If we’re going to create a better space for our youth, where is there a better place than this? How can I create change? I’m going into this with open ears.”

Saturday, he spoke with board chair Jonathan Greenbloom, a Montreal communications specialist who was re-elected after serving for the past 11 months on the interim board.

“I’m guessing audit and finance isn’t going to be your thing,” Hirsch said Greenbloom said to him.

“We talked a lot about what my role will be, what I bring to the table,” said Hirsch. “My role is going to be with the people, they see me more working on the cultural stuff, on inclusion, on things like that.”

When Hirsch first started speaking in early 2017 about his mental-health struggles, he published a piece on the Players’ Tribune called Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark, Dark, which began the journey that has led him back to Hockey Canada.

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The last six years have been about finding out what his “grown-up” life would be.

“Post-hockey career, that’s what we’re all trying to figure out. All we know is hockey. You’re starting over.”

He started over. He learned a lot. Now he’s hoping he call help Hockey Canada start over.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

@risingaction.bsky.social

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