Kelly Hrudey

What does it take to face the world's brightest spotlight while quietly fighting battles no one can see? 

Carlin Lutzer sits down with Canadian hockey icon Kelly Hrudey, former NHL goaltender for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks, and one of the most beloved analysts on Hockey Night in Canada…. for a conversation that goes far deeper than the game. 

Kelly's connection to Okotoks runs through the community-building street hockey tournament hosted by Okotoks Nissan, where he's shown up year after year to give local kids an unforgettable experience. 

Carlin and Kelly explore Kelly's unlikely path to the NHL, the legendary Easter Epic of 1987, life alongside Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles, and …most powerfully …Kelly's open, honest journey through mental health struggles. 

Listeners will discover that behind the confidence on their Saturday night screens is a man who fights for his good days, one at a time.

Listen for:

5:06 How did Kelly Hrudey's Edmonton upbringing shape his love for Alberta's Rocky Mountains?

14:06 What made the Easter Epic of 1987 the game that changed Kelly Hrudey's career forever?

30:10 How has Kelly Hrudey's openness about mental health made a difference beyond hockey?

32:14 What is the story behind daughter Caitlin's More Good Days clothing company?

38:46 What tools from Tony Robbins still help Kelly Hrudey manage anxiety before going on air?

Connect with Guest: Kelly Hrudey | Former NHL Goaltender (New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks) | Hockey Night in Canada | Sportsnet Analyst

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Special thanks to Okotoks Nissan for arranging this podcast with Kelly Hrudey.

Transcript

Announcer (00:00):

Welcome to the Okotoks Podcast, where the stories are as solid as The Big Rock, sponsored by Carlin Lutzer Real Estate.

Carlin Rutzer (00:20):

Today's episode is one I've been looking forward to for a long time. If you grew up in Canada, you already know the voice, the insight, and the presence of Kelly Rhudey. From his day's battling in the crease with the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and the San Jose Sharks, to becoming one of the most trusted voices on hockey night in Canada. Kelly has been a part of our Saturday nights for decades, but this conversation goes way beyond hockey. We talk about his journey through the NHL, the pressures that come with performing at the highest level, and the moments that shaped his life both on and off the ice. We also dive into something far more important, mental health. Kelly shares openly about his own struggles, the tools that helped him through, and why having more good days than bad became such a powerful message for his family.

(01:19):

This one is real. It's honest, and I think it's going to resonate with a lot of people. So let's get into it. My conversation with Kelly Rhudey. Well, Kelly, it's an honor to have you on my show today.

Kelly Hrudey (01:32):

Well, thanks, Carlin. My pleasure. I apologize because I know you've been asking for about a year or so, and just scheduling was so difficult. By the way, I love the shirt that you're wearing. Thank you. Old school hockey night in

Carlin Rutzer (01:45):

Canada. Yes, yes. I ordered that and yeah, I'm kind of the old school. I miss the baby blue suits that the guys used to wear on Hockey Night in Canada.

Kelly Hrudey (01:54):

Yeah. We had it about 10 years ago where we went retro. And so all of us in the studio, we wore the old baby blue blazers. It was so cool. And then we auctioned them. We signed them and auctioned them off for charities, a real good initiative.

Carlin Rutzer (02:10):

Oh yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, I was going to ask you if you got to keep it, but yeah, if you got to auction it off, that's fantastic. Better. Yeah, absolutely. So Kelly, the way that we got to know each other is for the past three years now, you've come to Okatoks for Okotok's Nissan, four and four street hockey tournament. My son's played in there each year.

Kelly Hrudey (02:30):

Amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (02:30):

And Alec and the crew there at Okotoks Nissan do such a great job. The kids love it.

Kelly Hrudey (02:36):

I remember when he came to me when we started to form a partnership and part of that partnership said he wanted to do a community event, which I thought was amazing, but I didn't know really what Alec had in mind. And he came up with this great ball hockey program and it seems to be getting better and better. And I know you were there this past weekend. And I was amazed by the amount of people that were stopping by now. And it was really cool. He really came up with something that is bringing the community together. And we know in particular, kind of like Hockey Day in Canada, that's a special show we have with Hockey Night in Canada and Sportsnet. And it's usually in smaller centers. And the hockey rink itself, whether it's outdoor or the main arena or like this, just a makeshift thing, it just brings people together.

(03:28):

It's really heartwarming.

Carlin Rutzer (03:29):

Oh, absolutely. And I know that there was people driving past, there was people that made comments on the social media page that they saw it and they didn't know what was going on. There's people that just didn't know. And even reading, some people are like, "Oh, if I would've known The Legend," Kelly Rhudey was on, I would've stopped by. So that was- Let's

Kelly Hrudey (03:47):

Get back to reality. There's no legacy here.

Carlin Rutzer (03:49):

No. And Kelly, I think that's the thing about you. Seeing you, we've met a few different times. Everybody that I've known that knows you or knows of you, they all say the same thing is what you see on TV is what you get in person. And it's such a breath of fresh air to meet with you and visit with you, even when we're not recording and just how genuine you are. And I think that comes right across the TV screen every time you're on TV.

Kelly Hrudey (04:19):

Well, thanks. I appreciate that, Carlin, but I'll kind of dodge around that and I'll give you an explanation. First of all, I think that if you're a phony on television, the camera spots it a mile away and then you're exposed and then the fraud is up. But most importantly, I was raised really well. My mom and dad are terrific people. And the same with my wife's parents. They're amazing people. And so I think when you're around really nice, kind people that rubs off on the kids and I feel like we've done the same thing with our children as well.

Carlin Rutzer (04:52):

Yeah. Your parents should have wrote a book because they did do a great job. That certainly came through. And again, thank you for your time today. So Kelly, something that I didn't know, like you were born in Edmonton. Were you raised in Edmonton?

Kelly Hrudey (05:06):

Yeah. I lived there right until I moved away at 17 and go to Medicine At, play in the Western Hockey League. And I had the greatest upbringing, Carlin. Seriously, my mom and dad didn't have a lot of money, but they just invested all their time and what they did have in us. And as an example, they gave my brother Ken and I the greatest gift in the world, and that was a love for the Rocky Mountains. So like I said, we couldn't ever go on expensive vacations, but we had a tiny little travel trailer and we'd go to Bamf and Jasper and camp for a week or sometimes two, depending. And that love they gave me for the mountains I passed on to my children. So we go to the Rockies whenever we can and it's just the most glorious vacation. As an example, I didn't work the Olympics this year.

(05:55):

And what did Donna and I do as a vacay? We went on a winter vacation to Canmore and Bamf for about five or six nights. That was what we chose. We could have gone somewhere warm and yet we stayed right in Alberta.

Carlin Rutzer (06:08):

Yeah, no, I think I assumed. I sent you an email. We were going back and forth there and a little bit before that. And I was assuming you're going to go on a warm vacation, but yeah, that's

Kelly Hrudey (06:17):

Fantastic. Most smart people do. Yeah,

Carlin Rutzer (06:20):

No, absolutely. Okay. So just so you know this, you can't believe everything ChatGPT tells you because I was obviously doing some research and I consistently saw that you were born in Edmonton, but ChatGPT told me that you were born in Edmonton, but were raised in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Kelly Hrudey (06:40):

Oh, interesting. I don't know where that comes. It's

Carlin Rutzer (06:42):

Interesting. I don't know either, but ...

Kelly Hrudey (06:45):

My wife is from Saskatchewan, not Yorkton, but she was raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, so maybe there's a bit of a connection there.

Carlin Rutzer (06:53):

So many great people are from Saskatchewan.

Kelly Hrudey (06:56):

Yeah. Well, some of my greatest speaking engagements, I get invited a lot to Saskatchewan and a little bit to Regina, but Saskatoon a ton over the years. That's been great.

Carlin Rutzer (07:06):

Yeah. Okay. Okay. And what town was close to your wife's farm?

Kelly Hrudey (07:12):

Cornack. Kornack, Saskatchewan, way down south.

Carlin Rutzer (07:15):

Kornack. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Coal area there.

Kelly Hrudey (07:18):

Yes, exactly. Have you been?

Carlin Rutzer (07:20):

Yes. I was born and raised in Regina myself.

Kelly Hrudey (07:22):

Okay, cool. And

Carlin Rutzer (07:23):

Then we farmed your wayburn. We go to Esvan and Cornec and-

Kelly Hrudey (07:26):

Amazing, right? Yeah. Yeah.

Carlin Rutzer (07:28):

Fascinating. No, very cool. Kelly, then your career kind of got going in the WHO outlet. The story's fantastic because it sounded like you packed your bags to go for a tryout, but you weren't planning on it.

Kelly Hrudey (07:42):

You're exactly right. I went because the history for me growing up playing hockey, I would get cut every year. And sometimes I would get cut as many times as three times in the fall to find out basically what level I was going to go play at that year. And so my history told me that when I'm going to medicine at, I'm going to get cut. And so that was the first time ever. I went for a tryout, and of all things, it's in the Western Hockey League. And Vic Stasiak, a lovely man. He used to play on the famous Eucline in National Hockey League. He was our coach, and he called me in the second day of training camp. Honestly, this is not an exaggeration. Second day, and within the first five minutes, he tells me I made the medicine at Tigers. And I go, "Well, we've got a problem." First of all, I thought I was getting cut.

(08:36):

And so I only have one pair of jeans and two T-shirts. So I thought I was going home after the weekend. And so we had a little chuckle over that. Then he told me stories about Glen Hall and Terry Sachuk goaltenders that he had played with. And it was amazing conversation that lasted another two hours. Anyways, I chose to go there. It was a big family decision, as you can imagine. At 17 years old, as you mentioned, or as I mentioned, I have an older brother, Ken. So mom and dad and Ken and I, we sat in the living room one day and we discussed the pros and cons and we elected to give it a run. And then it turned out to be my life in hockey and broadcasting all started because of that big decision.

Carlin Rutzer (09:19):

Yeah, absolutely. So you played, it's my understanding you were with the Tigers for three years?

Kelly Hrudey (09:25):

Three years, that's right. And if you look at my hockey DB, my stats that first year were terrible. And I think I always, Joe can tell everybody, if I can make the NHL with the goals against average my first year of 6.17, then anybody can make National Hockey League. Now having said that, I kind of have fun with it, but we had a really young team. We're all 17 year olds and we're getting beaten up pretty badly in the standings. I think we only finished with 37 points. And at the year end banquet, I was named Rookie of the Year and Team MVP. So it doesn't tell a full story.

Carlin Rutzer (10:05):

No, for sure. Well, good for you. And then three years there, then you make the trip over to New York. Now you didn't start playing in the NHL right away, but you were, sorry, you were drafted 38th overall, which was phenomenal in 1980.

Kelly Hrudey (10:19):

You

Carlin Rutzer (10:19):

Made the trip over, you played in the ... Now, did they call it the CHL then?

Kelly Hrudey (10:23):

Yeah, it was the Central Hockey League. Yep. Okay. It had gone away for a while. It was the equivalent of the American Hockey League. And we were lucky because the Islanders assigned me to Indianapolis for two years and we flew everywhere. Unlike the American Hockey League guys, they would have to bus everywhere. So this was a real bougie minor league system. And we were lucky enough or fortunate enough. We had really good players in Indy. We won the championship two years in a row, so that was really cool. That's hard to do.

Carlin Rutzer (10:55):

Did you? Okay. That's awesome. And then my heart rate starts getting a little nervous because then you go to New York, you go to the New York Islanders. And the reason why I get nervous is because the name Billy Smith, as a kid, watching Billy Smith. I was a diehard ... It's a long story, Kelly. We won't get into it. I'm a Flames fan now, was an Oilers fan growing up.

Kelly Hrudey (11:19):

Long story.

Carlin Rutzer (11:21):

But Billy Smith, I hated him.

Kelly Hrudey (11:25):

He was a great guy.

Carlin Rutzer (11:26):

I'm sure he was, but

Kelly Hrudey (11:28):

Just what he

Carlin Rutzer (11:28):

Did, he didn't take any crap in the crease.

Kelly Hrudey (11:31):

He

Carlin Rutzer (11:31):

Just let people have it and he was hacking. Oh yeah. But you ended up kind of time sharing the

Kelly Hrudey (11:39):

Crease

Carlin Rutzer (11:39):

With him a little bit.

Kelly Hrudey (11:40):

Yep. Yep. My first year, I didn't play a ton. I can't remember 12 or 14 games, something like that, because there's three of us. There's Billy and Rollie Malonson and myself, and then the next year they had to make a decision. I couldn't go back down to the miners anymore, and otherwise I'd have to be put on waivers. And the Islanders were pretty confident somebody was going to pick me up. So we had three of us for only about a month, I think, and then they decided to trade Rollie. And then that was the start of a really good friendship with Billy. Billy and I were really good friends the first year, but it became special. We hung out everywhere together on the road. We'd go for dinners, all sorts of things. He was a real great mentor for me, how to be a great pro and how to fight for your job.

(12:28):

So he gave me one of the biggest lessons about, if somebody's coming up to take your job, don't give it to them. They have to earn it. And that's what I did for all the other goalies that when I ultimately became a number one, and I had tons of guys, especially in Los Angeles coming and trying to take my job. And ultimately, at some point, somebody's going to take your job, but I had to make them earn it.

Carlin Rutzer (12:53):

It must be such a weird relationship with the other goalie on the team. You must really have to work at that relationship because of the tension.

Kelly Hrudey (13:03):

You do. Yep, that's right. And because there's only one net, as everybody knows, and you're vying for that net every single night. And so you have to have mutual respect for each other and understand that it's not personal. If you go into the coach's room, for instance, and demand that you play when he's leaning towards the other guy. And so it has to be a real special bond. And I'm lucky, and I'm not just saying it, Carlin, I had the greatest relationships with all my partners. Now I've heard stories

Announcer (13:35):

Of

Kelly Hrudey (13:35):

Other guys not having that same sort of connection, and that must have been miserable. But my 17 year pro career, I never had to endure anything like that.

Carlin Rutzer (13:46):

Well, I'm sure that has everything to do with you, Kelly, because of who you are and the upbringing you had,

Kelly Hrudey (13:52):

Right? Yeah. You

Carlin Rutzer (13:53):

Gave credit to your parents and what you see is what you get

Kelly Hrudey (13:57):

Around

Carlin Rutzer (13:58):

Good guys. So April 18th, 1987, what does that date mean to you?

Kelly Hrudey (14:06):

It changed the trajectory of my hockey career. So that, of course, you're referring to the Easter epic,

(14:13):

The game where we, the New York Islanders, it was game seven in Washington and we had, in that series, we're down 3.1 and we had tons of injuries going into game seven. So the game seven, I think most people would've favored Washington because we were without one of the greatest defense wins to ever play the game. We were out Dennis Potman without one of the greatest goal scores in the history of the game. Mike Bosse, Brent Sutter, another terrific player, he was out. And lastly, Brian Schrotche, the great centerman, was playing that game with a separated left shoulder. So the odds were stacked against us, but we somehow got through that game and we won quadruple overtime. Excuse me. Pat Lafontaine scored an amazing goal. I had an NHL record for 33 years, most saves in a playoff game, and it was amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (15:11):

73.

Kelly Hrudey (15:12):

73, that's right. So it was crazy. What a great memory. And then because of that, Carlin, I did play the year before for Canada in the World Championships in 86 in Moscow. So my career was sort of going in the right direction, but it wasn't until that game. And then the next year is we went to Game seven again in Philadelphia. We ended up losing that one. But that's because of that series and that playoff. Then I was invited to the 87 Canada Cup. I played on that team, so it was a great experience.

Carlin Rutzer (15:44):

Absolutely. You've played with some of the greats,

Kelly Hrudey (15:49):

Just listing

Carlin Rutzer (15:49):

Off the names of Mike

Kelly Hrudey (15:50):

Bosse.

Carlin Rutzer (15:52):

Unbelievable, right?

Kelly Hrudey (15:53):

Ridiculous.

Carlin Rutzer (15:54):

Oh, yeah. No. Yeah. The thing is, you have lived so many ... My hockey career, my dream died when I think I was in grade four. I knew I wasn't going to make it. That's funny. But you always had that dream growing up as a kid. And then making the shift over to LA, that must have been a crazy transition for you.

Kelly Hrudey (16:22):

Yeah. As much as Wayne Gretzky and I were friends from the 87 Canada Cup, Wayne was basically the architect in the trade that sent me from New York to LA. And I've never told him this, but at the time I was furious. I wanted to be an islander my entire career. I wanted to be one of those guys that you stay in one city hopefully and win some championships and so on. But that was changed in February of 89 when the Islanders sent me to Los Angeles. Now, in hindsight, it turned out to be the best move of my life. My years in Los Angeles were my favorite for a number of different reasons. I love New York and I love San Jose, my time in both those cities as well. But Los Angeles, I think I was 28 years old when I was traded and 28 to 35.

(17:15):

And so I think most of us would agree that's a real growth period for most people. Like you're learning, you're starting to understand yourself a little bit more, understand just family life and everything. It was really cool, the growth that I experienced in Los Angeles, not only as a player, but as a person. It was cool.

Carlin Rutzer (17:35):

Absolutely. Now, was there some distractions being in Los Angeles? Now it's kind of like the limelight. Sure.

Kelly Hrudey (17:42):

You're

Carlin Rutzer (17:42):

Rubbing shoulders with celebrities now.

Kelly Hrudey (17:44):

100%. I'm going to name drop, but that's not the intention, but you've asked me the question. But because we're on a team with Wayne Gretzky, there's all sorts of Hollywood stars around and we were invited to all sorts of different things. And as an example, Giorgio Armani was a big fan of Wayne who would have known or who would have thought, right? And so one year, Giorgio had a private fashion show for us in his place on Rodeo Drive, I think it was. Yeah. Yeah. And so it was really cool because there was like 10 really gorgeous female models and 10 great looking male models walking around showcasing like a real runway thing, showcasing the clothes and then we're leaving and not only was that part cool, we're leaving, they're giving us all kinds of gifts, like bags full of clothes and things. It was so crazy.

(18:44):

And so you had lots of things like that and we had so many parties and things to go to, but you had to make sure that you're prepared. As another example, I went to a really cool birthday party, but Don and I left around and there were a lot of really famous people there. Donna and I left around 10 o'clock or so, and it was about an hour drive. It was in Malibu. It was about an hour drive back to our house near the beach in Manhattan Beach area. And we left at 10 because I had a game the next day. And I was so proud of myself because the next day we won that game to won in overtime. And I had the common sense and the discipline to say, it's time to go and we're going home and it paid off the next night.

Carlin Rutzer (19:32):

Yeah.

Kelly Hrudey (19:33):

Other things too, other things like I've always said it's not an easy place whether you're for the Kings or the Ducks. And we had a small family, so we must have gone to Disneyland a hundred times or so. And there's golf there. There's so many things that can be distractions. You've got to be a really committed athlete, I think, to play well in certain cities.

Carlin Rutzer (19:52):

Absolutely. Well, you think of the teams that are coming into Vegas. You wonder

Kelly Hrudey (19:56):

If

Carlin Rutzer (19:56):

Vegas has a little bit of an upper hand because the teams are coming in and they're hitting the strip and they're having a good time.

Kelly Hrudey (20:02):

100%. I'll throw another city in there for you too, Carlin. Nashville.

Carlin Rutzer (20:06):

Oh, is that right?

Kelly Hrudey (20:07):

Some of the teams like to have some fun on Broadway Street and Nashville. I'm

Carlin Rutzer (20:11):

Sure. Absolutely. Maybe Calgary needed a few more attractions to ...

Kelly Hrudey (20:17):

Right?

Carlin Rutzer (20:18):

So no, that's fantastic. And then you ended your career in San Jose. Yeah,

Kelly Hrudey (20:24):

That was a great experience because Dean Lombardi and I, he was the general manager at the time. We had a really cool connection. So my first meeting, I had a really bad ankle when I left LA. And so the first weekend, they invited all of us, Donna and our three children down to San Jose to take a look. But my first meeting with Dean, it lasted about two hours and then the next day had another two hour meeting. He drilled deep into my time in Los Angeles. I think he really asked me really hard questions.

Announcer (20:57):

And so

Kelly Hrudey (20:57):

It was amazing. And so we had a great connection and it still remains to this day. We still text every once in a while and stuff. And so it was fun to be around Dean and the rest of the guys.

Carlin Rutzer (21:11):

Yeah, absolutely. And then was it while you were still in LA, you started to make the transition a little bit into broadcasting?

Kelly Hrudey (21:22):

Yep, that's right. Some of the American sports centers, they gave me the odd game to do and stuff, but it was really in 1995. I was still playing my second last year with Los Angeles and we missed out with the playoffs by one point and we're in Chicago. And so we flew home. For some reason, we stayed over because normally you fly at night and we stayed over. So I get home the next day and walk in a house and Donna says, "A guy by the name of John Shannon from Hockey Night in Canada called you. " And I had known John already for about six years. So I knew his job title is executive producer of Hockey Night. And so I called him back and he said, "Hey, listen, here's this brand new show we're developing in the atrium of the CBC in Toronto on Front Street, and it's going to be Ron and Don one night.

(22:14):

And then we're going to have another guy with Ron and we'll alternate between Grapes and this other person. And we'd like to know if you're interested." And I said, "I am." And he goes, "But I have to tell you, I'll be really honest. You're my second choice. Wayne Gretzky's my first choice." And luckily for me, Wayne turned it down. And so basically because of that opportunity, I've been around for, well, 27. I think I'm finishing my 27th year full-time and I did it four years while I was still a player. It was just an amazing experience. You know what? I was never more nervous than the first time I was on the show sitting beside Ron McClain and the music, hockey night theme music is in my ear and I'm like, oh my gosh, it reminded me of being a kid that all of us as a family, right?

(23:04):

We listen, we'd watch hockey night, we'd hear that theme music opening the show. And I played a lot of hockey games. I was never more nervous than my first start on hockey night in Canada.

Carlin Rutzer (23:15):

Well, yeah, that music is iconic. Yes. And what it used to mean to us, Kelly, as Canadians, we didn't have hockey on every night of the week. It was Saturday night. You'd get Toronto or Montreal and

Kelly Hrudey (23:29):

See

Carlin Rutzer (23:30):

Gila Fleur skating and ... Yeah.

Kelly Hrudey (23:32):

Oh

Carlin Rutzer (23:32):

Boy. Yeah. It is something that as a ... It was so important. We'd have pizza. We'd watch TV down in the basement. We'd rarely get to sit. Oh my gosh. So all these different things of hockey night in Canada and the tradition, right?

Kelly Hrudey (23:47):

So here's our story. So we'd usually be playing street hockey before. Then we'd come in, might have a little bite to eat watching. And then my mom and dad were amazing on Saturday. So they would allow us to go back outside and play street hockey with all the neighborhood kids. And it was around 10:30 or 11:00. My brother and I would walk over. There's a convenience store close by and we'd get one of those frozen pizzas and bring it home and pop it in the oven and have pizza around 11:30 or 12:00 and go to bed. It was amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (24:20):

Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. I know we have ... Yeah. Our family has great memories built around hockey, right? Yeah, for sure. And just something we did. And yeah, you couldn't PVR it, you couldn't stop it, you couldn't record it. No. You were watching it live, right?

Kelly Hrudey (24:35):

That's

Carlin Rutzer (24:35):

Right. No. Well, okay. So this is kind of a surprise question.

Kelly Hrudey (24:42):

Okay.

Carlin Rutzer (24:43):

Well on hockey night in Canada.

Kelly Hrudey (24:45):

Yeah.

Carlin Rutzer (24:46):

Do you ever have feelings where you kind of want to punch Kevin in the face?

Kelly Hrudey (24:52):

That's funny. Well, we all tease each other, right? I'm sure you do. And Kevin really, he really gets on Elliot and I get on Kevin. Yes. But the great thing about that, when you tease somebody, it usually means that you like them. Yes. And so that you can definitely tell. I think it's pretty obvious that we all get along really well. We're all different personalities because we should be. We can't be the same. And Jennifer and Ron are amazing and David Amber and all of the people. Yes. Luke comes on. Luke Gastik does a lot now. He replaces me when I need a break or if maybe I'm on the road with the Flames and he does a great job. We have a whole bunch of other guests that join us. It's a real good blend right now.

Carlin Rutzer (25:36):

Oh yeah. The camaraderie is fantastic. And it comes across. You can tell you guys like each other, but there's been a few times that you wish that they could keep rolling after they're done recording because it seems like things got maybe a little bit heated there.

Kelly Hrudey (25:49):

Oh, they can.

Carlin Rutzer (25:49):

Oh

Kelly Hrudey (25:50):

Yeah. Oh, they can. Well, you know where the most interesting television might be, and we'll never broadcast this, but after the late game, so we get off the air, the earliest is one in the morning, Eastern time, and the four of us, Ron, Elliot, Kevin, and I go to this little pub, like a five-minute walk from our studio and we'll sit there till they usually kick us out around quarter to three in the morning. We have only a couple beers or something and we chat about the show or what's going on in our personal lives and stuff. It's really good. It's amazing because sometimes we will rehash the show and we don't see it in the same way, right? So it's really cool.

Carlin Rutzer (26:32):

Absolutely. Okay. Question for you. What's with Canada? We haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1993.

Kelly Hrudey (26:42):

Well-

Carlin Rutzer (26:43):

What's going on there?

Kelly Hrudey (26:44):

We're close. We've had a lot of really close calls. I just think it just speaks to the competitive nature of the NHL right now. And as much as I didn't like a salary cap coming in back after the 2004, five lockout, I do think that competitive balance has never been stronger. And so we see a lot of teams get very, very close Canadian teams. It's going to happen. It will definitely happen. And then we as Canadians will cheer even louder.

Carlin Rutzer (27:19):

For sure. Absolutely. Okay. So who do you got winning the Stanley Cup this year?

Kelly Hrudey (27:24):

Well, I kind of thought you were going to ask me that. So I have my laptop in front of me, teams that I think are really good. Now having said that-

Carlin Rutzer (27:31):

Do you have like a spreadsheet going?

Kelly Hrudey (27:33):

No, I have. Well, we have in the media, we have what's called, I bet, I guess I shouldn't say the website name, but we have this private area we can go in and it gives us all these stats and all this. It's super comprehensive, so it's really good. So I am just going to list off, because first of all, I did say about the salary cap.

Announcer (27:55):

Yes.

Kelly Hrudey (27:55):

Basically before the salary cap, I think you could list four or five teams that you would think most likely have a really good chance. In today's NHL, I don't participate in things where you have to predict because I'm never right, but I'll just go over a few teams that I've seen recently that I really, really like. Sure. I like much you all. I like Tampa. You know who a dark horse for me? Ottawa. They can do some damage.

Carlin Rutzer (28:24):

Well, their record since January is the second best in the NHL.

Kelly Hrudey (28:29):

Crazy. They're crazy good. So I'm bypassing the entire Metropolitan as a strong candidate. Maybe somebody will, but I don't see it. I just covered Colorado last week and I cover them again. This week, they are really good teams. Same with Dallas. I just covered them. I covered Minnesota. They're an excellent team. Vegas, I was just in Vegas a week ago and I don't see it. Something was off and I'm not sure why they had just made their coaching change and I still didn't see it. And I'm thinking Edmonton still has a good chance. I know it hasn't been as smooth as the last two years, but I still like their team. And when you have Dry Citle and McDavid, you can do a lot of good things.

Carlin Rutzer (29:19):

Absolutely. And you just never know when a goalie's going to get hot, right?

Kelly Hrudey (29:22):

You don't. As you know. And Connor Ingram, come on. That's such a compelling story to like. He's a really nice guy. He's got an incredible story and I think everybody's rooting for him.

Carlin Rutzer (29:34):

Yeah, for sure. I just find you incredibly fair. When you're doing color commentating for the Flames, you are so ... And I think you must have to work at that a little bit because no doubt you're watching games. You're probably cheering for a certain team in the back of your mind, but still to find that balance where you look at the penalty calls, you're not saying, "Oh, that ... " Because you do watch some guys that are doing the commentating and color, they're not fair at all. They're so biased. I agree. So no, I find you incredibly fair.

Kelly Hrudey (30:09):

Thank you.

Carlin Rutzer (30:10):

And the other thing is just how open you are about the past struggles and the fact of mental health. And it is such a- For

Kelly Hrudey (30:20):

Sure.

Carlin Rutzer (30:21):

And I commend you for doing that as well because it's not easy to be open and honest and to talk about those things all the time. But we are certainly living in a day and age where I feel we're getting so much information thrown at us and it's hard to digest it all. And I don't think social media is helping our mental health issues at all.

Kelly Hrudey (30:41):

I'm with you there. I participate in social media in my own particular way, and I'll get to that in a second, but for the most part, depending on what platform you're on, I think social media is 95% bad. It's not real. And so I think what I feel like I've chosen ... First of all, I get my strength talking about mental health from Caitlin, our daughter. She's had her struggles. In 2013, she went public in a big way. The National Post and Canadian President stories on her and her journey. So she was my inspiration to speak when I was going through my things and still am, of course. But how I choose to go on social media, I talk about maybe I've had a bad weekend or something, and then all these people reach out to me. It's like, Carla, it's really heartwarming. Rarely does somebody say anything really over the top mean.

(31:39):

And I try to ... Sometimes it's a little bit hard, but I try to respond to every single person and say, "Hey, we're all in this together. There's no shame in it. " And it brings this community together where we just talk about what we're going through and it's really beautiful. I love it. The work that my family and I have done in the field of mental health is the greatest work we've all ever done. It's great. And thank you for bringing that up because that's very important. Yeah.

Carlin Rutzer (32:08):

Can you tell me, I know what the name is, but can you tell us how your daughter got the name for her organization?

Kelly Hrudey (32:14):

Yes. More Good Days Clothing, and I'm wearing one of them. Yeah, let's see. One of my favorite pieces. And so when Caitlin was diagnosed in 2005, she had to go through extensive therapy. She was 12 years old. And after four years of this therapy going almost daily, to a great doctor here in Calgary, Dr. Kelly Moraz, Kelly was amazing. We still stay in contact. And anyways, after four years of therapy, she came home from a session and said, "Mom, dad, I'm having more good days than bad." What a profound statement for a 16-year-old person. And it also puts in perspective how difficult it has been for her when now you're finally having more good days than bad. And so that is the genesis of her clothing company with her and her husband. They started in 2020. It's called moregooddaysclothing.com if you'd like to visit the site.

(33:15):

Sure. I will. Yes. I've

Carlin Rutzer (33:18):

Been on it before, but I will go

Kelly Hrudey (33:19):

Back

Carlin Rutzer (33:19):

On it again. Absolutely.

Kelly Hrudey (33:20):

Please, because they have some new products just launched. And for people out there that might recognize me on a plane and plenty of you are so nice and say hi, most days I am flying to Toronto or home from Toronto with a more good days hoodie on. And I have all different kinds, all different artwork. That's Hayden's artwork, by the way. He's a artist by trade. And so every design is his. And so that's what I wear on planes. And oftentimes somebody will say, "Hey, I like your sweatshirt or your hoodie," or the flight attendant or somebody and I'll tell the story about what the background is behind more good days. And it's a real great conversation starter.

Carlin Rutzer (34:04):

Right, absolutely. What would you say? No doubt wearing that hoodie, flying around, talking to people in airports and airplanes, to those people that are struggling, that are in a mental health crisis right now, what kind of direction would you point them in? What kind of things, advice you would leave with them?

Kelly Hrudey (34:23):

Yeah. Well, if they can, share what they're going through with a family member or a friend. Don't do it alone because it's way too dark and way too painful. Talk about it if you can, get some help. This really annoys me. I think governments at all levels have to do a better job of getting more help for people because it's not fair when you're in a crisis situation that you're in the queue for six months because that's way too long to wait. If somebody can get help, you should get it as quickly as possible. When I was really struggling recently about 2021, it started earlier. It started for me, my greater challenges started in 2019, the summer. I finally went for help, which was stupid. I waited way too long.

Announcer (35:15):

But

Kelly Hrudey (35:15):

I was going weekly for months and months and months, and it was a game changer. It was amazing to go see somebody. And so much so to the point where when I was starting to come out of it a little bit and I wasn't needing to go every week, I still went because it was a great, safe place for me. And we wouldn't even talk about what I was going through with my mental health. It was a nice place to sit and I liked the person that I was seeing. And it was a real great place to just sit there for 20 minutes and just chat about nothing really in particular, but it was a good place to be.

Carlin Rutzer (35:47):

Yeah, for sure. Because even now, for you, I know you had the privilege of going through meeting with Tony Robbins to help

Kelly Hrudey (35:56):

You

Carlin Rutzer (35:56):

Back in your LA days, right?

Kelly Hrudey (35:58):

Barry Melrose, right? What a gem of a human being. Barry's going through some issues, but he and Cindy, boy, Barry saved not ... Well, he saved my NHL career, but he got me back on track mentally because I was lost that year. Started in the summer of 92 and for good reason, I was going to become a dad for the third time and that winter and the pressure of playing in the NHL was getting the best of me. I remember that summer in 92, I was thinking, how much longer can I do it? Now, these questions, they were rational questions. The fact is the sport, usually your career's around three years. So I was, I think entering my 10th year, we're going to have another child. I was feeling the pressure. How much longer can I do it? And then unfortunately, those rational questions or thoughts turned to irrational thoughts.

(36:56):

And then I couldn't handle it. My brain was on fire. And luckily for me, Barry recognized that. And in January, I believe January 17th, that's how impactful that day. 1993, that day was so impactful for me because I got to meet Tony Robbins and Tony got me out of that ditch because I couldn't do it myself. And I met with Tony personally, individually, for a number of times. This was a really cool part of that story though, Carlin. So Barry makes the introduction. We're in Barry's coach's office at the Great Western Forum. We're going to play that afternoon. We had an afternoon game. Rob Stauber was going to play. I was going to back up. And so Barry makes the introduction to Tony and he says, "Would you be willing to work with him?" And he try and help you out of this. And I said, "Of course." I was at the lowest level.

(37:48):

I needed help. I knew what I ... But can you imagine back in 1993, grown men talking about mental health or trying to help somebody? No. Right? And so I said, "Of course, I'd love to work with Tony." And Barry said, "I have another question for you though, and you don't have to agree." He goes, "I'd like to sit in on the session and learn more about you. You're my starting goalie. I'd like to understand how you work and what's going on. " So I said, "Of course he can. " Back then, nobody is reaching out. And so Barry went way out on a limb, and of course I was more than happy to have Barry get to understand me a little bit more. And it changed our relationship. It was amazing. It was so cool. Every time I see Barry, I still thank him.

Carlin Rutzer (38:32):

Yeah, no, for sure. So what would be your biggest takeaway from meeting someone like Tony Robbins and him helping you through those thoughts and those dark valleys that you'd have?

Kelly Hrudey (38:46):

Well, for me, I have to try and remember what are rational thoughts and what are irrational thoughts. And so once I ... I have this little index card I carry with me in my wallet all the time and I keep it on the desk on Saturdays or I will start doing it again in playoffs every night just in front of me because I get these irrational thoughts just before I go to air. It lasts about two hours before I go to air. And what's really weird about it, it's usually not the games themselves. It's the pre-game show that gives me the most anxiety. And that should not be a show that gives you that, but that's how my brain works. And so I have to work through that. And I always call my wife and she talks me through it and we get through and most times nobody would ever know, but I know.

Carlin Rutzer (39:34):

No, for sure. Well, I love the way that, because I've listened to lots of podcasts that you've

Kelly Hrudey (39:40):

Done

Carlin Rutzer (39:40):

Before and the way that

Kelly Hrudey (39:41):

You talk

Carlin Rutzer (39:41):

About Donna and the support that she

Kelly Hrudey (39:44):

Is

Carlin Rutzer (39:45):

To you, which is

Kelly Hrudey (39:46):

Just

Carlin Rutzer (39:46):

Phenomenal. But this coming from a viewer, nobody would ever know. So what are some of those things that are on that card that kind of, if you don't mind sharing that?

Kelly Hrudey (40:01):

Yeah, for sure. So the first four are things about ... No, the first one is easy, breathe. So for anybody in the situation like that, we all have to remember to breathe and do your breathing techniques. The next three are what I struggle with, confidence and believing in myself and trust myself. And so it's trust yourself, you know what you're talking about. And there's another one, similar thing. The fifth one is going back to when Barry and I met Tony and we had this little drill, and one of the questions Tony had for me, like, who do you feel like when you feel really good? And I think the Gulf War was just coming to an end and General Norman Schwarzkopf was on TV all the time. And I loved his strength. When he had addressed the nation, his chin was up and his chest was proud and sticking out.

(41:04):

And I was like, "I love that guy's demeanor because when I'm playing well, I feel like a general on the ice." So the fifth note is Schwartzkoff, and that's what I would say to myself before every game.

(41:16):

And then the last one, which was really cool when I started seeing the person here in Calgary for my mental health a few years ago, they told me something that I had never considered in my life. And that is, you deserve this success. And so I bet there are a lot of people out there that might watch this and never have given themselves that credit. They're just powering through life like I used to and never once did I ever think I deserve this success. And so that was a really welcome, warm type thing to look at. That's why I have it last on my index card because that's the last thing I think, you know what, you're right. I do deserve this. So that's something for people to think.

Carlin Rutzer (42:02):

So a while back, I had Chris Cedarstrand on and you know

Kelly Hrudey (42:07):

Chris

Carlin Rutzer (42:07):

Cedarstrand, right? He's the one that he's amputee. And just while I was meeting with him, I got this overwhelming sense that this happened to him for a reason. And I truly believe this about you, Kelly, is this success that you've had in your life has happened to you for a reason. And that reason, if it's only to get this message out about mental health and how people can pull out of those ruts and being an encouragement to, especially men, right? Like men are, we're so tied to our finances. People listening be very, very close to that person, that male especially when finances start to struggle, their identity is built around their jobs and who they are and how much income they're bringing in. And we've got to switch our identity around a little bit.

Kelly Hrudey (43:02):

That's well said. Yeah. I agree with all that. And you're right. And yeah, just be on the lookout for people and ask them honestly, are you doing okay?

Carlin Rutzer (43:11):

Yeah, absolutely. Kelly, I truly do appreciate you. I appreciate what you do. As a kid, we talked about it earlier, what hockey night meant to us as Canadians. And now you have the opportunity to do that for

Kelly Hrudey (43:27):

My son.

Carlin Rutzer (43:28):

It's

Kelly Hrudey (43:28):

Amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (43:30):

There's games on sometimes, Kelly, that we have on the background because it's always on hockey night in Canada that we may not be watching the game, but the panel comes on and we turn it up. We're like, "Is there going to be some sparks here this time?" It's

Kelly Hrudey (43:40):

Awesome. Cool. Well, we put a lot of effort into it. Our producer is a guy by the name of Brian Spear and he is phenomenal and not for Brian. There are a lot of really good producers I work with, but Brian is one of the biggest reasons why I think our show is such a big success. He's amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (43:59):

Well, you guys make it look so natural. You really do. Thanks. And no, we appreciate it. And yeah, I know Kevin, he's such a great part for the way that he rases everybody. And as a Flames fan, obviously didn't like him as a player, but on the panel, he's awesome. Did you ever see those videos he did in Anaheim when he dressed up for-

Kelly Hrudey (44:26):

Yes, hilarious.

Carlin Rutzer (44:27):

Those are

Kelly Hrudey (44:28):

So funny. Oh my gosh, that was amazing. Like the security guard and patting people down. And then when he was like in the TV timeout, he was the rink shovel person and all that. Amazing.

Carlin Rutzer (44:42):

It was so good.

Kelly Hrudey (44:45):

So what's the rest of your day look like?

Carlin Rutzer (44:48):

Well, my son is coming home and I'm going to take him to ... He's a goalie as well. Oh, cool. Okay. Something very cool that I've adapted to him is let's break down the game into five minute segments.

Kelly Hrudey (45:05):

That's what I did.

Carlin Rutzer (45:06):

I know. I got that from you, right?

Kelly Hrudey (45:09):

I got

Carlin Rutzer (45:09):

That

Kelly Hrudey (45:10):

From

Carlin Rutzer (45:10):

You. Because

Kelly Hrudey (45:13):

I knew I could be, or try to be perfect for five minutes. I didn't know if I could be perfect for 60 minutes, but my brain, it seemed, thought that I could be perfect for five.

Carlin Rutzer (45:23):

Yes, absolutely. No, and it works for him because there's times he's just getting lit up and then it's like, let's reset, let's reset and let's go for it.

Kelly Hrudey (45:34):

Well, it's kind of like Tiger Woods dad. He allowed, or he taught Tiger that you can be mad after a bad shot, but only for 10 seconds. You're only allowed to be mad for 10 seconds and then you move on. So different kind of theory, but it's similar.

Carlin Rutzer (45:51):

Yes. No, for sure. Kelly, I've taken up more time. It's

Kelly Hrudey (45:56):

All good.

Carlin Rutzer (45:57):

I do. Thank you very much for taking the time today to come on the show and to tell us your story.

Kelly Hrudey (46:03):

Awesome.

Carlin Rutzer (46:03):

And I know people are very interested in hearing this and we look forward to crossing paths again soon.

Kelly Hrudey (46:11):

Yes. Thanks, buddy. That was really fun. Thanks, Karlyn.

Carlin Rutzer (46:13):

Thanks, Kelly. Well, that was Kelly Rhudey. And honestly, that's the kind of conversation that sticks with you a little longer than most. We talked hockey, sure, the battles, the moments, the memories, but what really stands out is the reminder that no matter who you are, what you've accomplished or what it looks like from the outside, we're all working through something and sometimes it's just about stacking a few more good days together. If you took something from this episode, I'd ask you to do a couple simple things. Share it with someone who might need to hear it. Start a conversation with someone in your life. And as Kelly said, don't go through it alone. Thanks for listening to the Okahooks Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you subscribed, leave a review and share it with a friend. It helps more than you know. And as always, we will see you next time.

Announcer (47:21):

That's it for today's episode of the Okotoks Podcast. Big thanks to Carlin Lutzer Real Estate for making it happen, and thanks to you for listening.