About this episode

Brent Sopel discusses his NHL career, personal struggles with dyslexia and ADHD, and the impact of youth sports on self-esteem.

The Stanley Cup champion who reached hockey's highest level while fighting a battle he didn't understand. Scott and Jamie sit down with Stanley Cup champion Brent Sopel for a raw conversation about his NHL career, dyslexia, ADHD, mental health, self-esteem, and the way we teach kids in youth hockey. Brent talks candidly about reading at a fourth-grade level in high school , being labeled “dumb, stupid and lazy,” and not discovering his learning differences until age 32. He explains why hockey became his source of self-esteem, why winning the Stanley Cup was also the “emptiest” feeling of his life , and how he learned to play hockey instead of think hockey. The conversation also gets into why Brent believes “youth sport has become youth business,” what private training often gets wrong, the details today's players are missing, and why coaches need to become better teachers, especially for kids who learn differently. In this episode: Why winning the Stanley Cup felt unexpectedly empty Growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia and ADHD Why self-esteem matters so much for young athletes Why coaches need to understand how different kids learn This one gives hockey parents something they…

People in this episode

Hosts: Scott, Jamie

Guest: Brent Sopel

Topics covered

• mental health
• youth sports
• dyslexia
• ADHD
• self-esteem
• coaching
• hockey

Keywords

• Stanley Cup
• hockey
• mental health
• youth hockey
• coaching
• self-esteem
• dyslexia
• ADHD

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sopel Foundation, Mo's Smile, CHD/MSK

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