May 6, 2022, Tampa, Florida, USA: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell 36 is seen on the ice during the first period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday, May 6, 2022 in Tampa. Copyright: xDirkxShaddx
May 6, 2022, Tampa, Florida, USA: Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell 36 is seen on the ice during the first period in Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday, May 6, 2022 in Tampa. Copyright: xDirkxShaddx
After a career filled with resilience, perfect saves, and the mental part of hockey, former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell is set to begin a new chapter beyond the sport.
“I was fortunate enough to accomplish that goal of playing eight seasons in the NHL, becoming an NHL all-star and frankly, on paper living a pretty awesome life,” he shared on Instagram on July 19. “What a lot of people don't see is the personal battle that I went through throughout my career.”
As the Dallas Stars' 11th overall pick from the 2010 NHL draft, expectations of high performance weighed heavily on Campbell. Though his career peaked during the 2020-2022 seasons he played at Toronto, mental hurdles and inconsistency caught up to him.
Sport Bilder des Tages May 14, 2022, TORONTO, ON, CANADA: Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares 91 hangs his head with Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell 36 after being knocked out of the NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Stanley Cup playoffs in game seven from the Tampa Bay Lightning in Toronto on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Canada News - May 14, 2022 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAc35_ 20220514_zaf_c35_178 Copyright: xNathanxDenettex
Sport Bilder des Tages May 14, 2022, TORONTO, ON, CANADA: Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares 91 hangs his head with Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell 36 after being knocked out of the NHL, Eishockey Herren, USA Stanley Cup playoffs in game seven from the Tampa Bay Lightning in Toronto on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Canada News - May 14, 2022 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY - ZUMAc35_ 20220514_zaf_c35_178 Copyright: xNathanxDenettex
In the video he posted, Campbell expressed both his gratitude for the sport and the vulnerability he felt over his career. The journey from becoming an NHL All-Star to the point of retirement hasn’t been quite the fairytale. But his own struggles led him to embrace the career of a life coach.
“Walking away from hockey wasn’t easy. It gave me more than I could have ever imagined,” he captioned the post. “But over the last few years, I realized the work that brought me the most fulfillment wasn’t stopping pucks. It was helping people become who they’re capable of becoming.”
Moreover, he didn’t shy away from declaring that if he could, he’d have done this sooner.
Jack Campbell on Shifting His Career
Campbell maintained a 93-52-18 record with a 2.76 GAA and .909 SV% and went 7-8-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .920 SV% in the postseason during his overall time with the Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers. But if he could help it, Campbell’s story would’ve been different.
“I was trying to do it all on my own for 30 years of my life, and now sitting here I'm just kicking myself why couldn't I have found this sooner,” he stated in the same video. “That's when I found, four years ago, my life coach who's completely changed everything for me.”
Moving forward, Campbell’s goal is to be the “fierce advocate” for those who are going through the same things he did as a player. Instead of pucks, this time he’d be saving dreams and visions of those who need it.
Do you know any other NHL star with a similar story to Campbell? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy