Brady Leavold’s journey from professional hockey to overcoming addiction and adversity has inspired hundreds of thousands worldwide. Today, he works with current NHL players and elite prospects on skill development, bringing a unique perspective that blends high-performance coaching with powerful life lessons. As a keynote speaker, Brady shares his raw and authentic story of resilience, recovery, and hope—empowering athletes, organizations, and communities to embrace vulnerability, break the stigma around mental health, and unlock their full potential. His ability to connect with audiences—from NHL locker rooms to schools and corporate stages—creates lasting impact and drives real change.
Transformational Keynote Speeches: In Person & Virtual
Brady Leavold has become one of Canada’s most in-demand keynote speakers and a leading voice for mental health in the hockey community. A retired professional hockey player, Brady’s path was shaped by early childhood trauma that he carried silently into adolescence and adulthood. Hockey became both his escape and his identity, but behind the mask of success he struggled with pain he didn’t know how to process. Those unhealed wounds led to destructive choices, substance abuse, and a cycle of self-destruction that eventually cost him the game he loved.
Brady’s choices brought him to places he never imagined: from the pro ranks to Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside, where he spent nearly a year homeless, and later to time behind bars. He now speaks openly about accountability—acknowledging the role his decisions played, while showing how anyone can take ownership of their future, no matter how dark the past may be. His story could have ended with one of his many overdoses or suicide attempts, but in 2020 he chose a different path: recovery, honesty, and service to others.
Since then, Brady has inspired hundreds of thousands through his podcast Hockey 2 Hell and Back, his speaking events across Canada, and his authentic presence on social media. His message is raw, real, and unforgettable: trauma doesn’t define us, our choices do—and when we take accountability, healing and change become possible.
Today, Brady is back on the ice, not as a player, but as a coach and mentor. He works with current NHL players, elite prospects, and youth of all ages, blending high-performance skill development with life lessons on resilience, accountability, and mental health. Brady is also the founder of Puck Support, a movement dedicated to honouring players lost to mental health and addiction, while supporting those still fighting today. Through its clothing line and nonprofit foundation, Puck Support has ignited powerful conversations in arenas, schools, and workplaces around the world.
Brady’s story has been featured by major sports and news outlets in North America and Europe. His passion for helping others shines in every interaction, leaving audiences inspired, motivated, and challenged to take ownership of their own lives. Once you hear his story—you will never forget it.
BRADY HAS WORKED WITH
AND MANY MORE
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
RAMON SOLINAS,
SOLINAS & ASSOCIATES
INSURANCE SERVICES INC.
"Several of my advisors have now told me that your talk was the best one they’ve seen in a long long time. You hit a home run with my group. Thank you so much for sharing and baring your soul. Vulnerability really is strength!"
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Tasha Ceaser
"I first heard Brady speak at my son’s year end hockey banquet in 2023 and am forever grateful my family got to hear his story and message, as I feel it forever changed our feelings and dialogue surrounding addiction and mental health. Brady truly broke down huge walls of stigma and judgement in the banquet hall that evening which is the first step in saving lives. Lives of our children, teammates, friends, and family members; anyone can be affected."
James Gardiner, MSc., CATC, CSCS
Director, S&C and Student Athlete Preparedness
Everest Academy
"In our approach to learning within the S&C and Student Athlete Preparedness Department at Everest Academy, we believe in process, having student athletes navigate their own path, with staff standing in as a road map. Having known Brady for the past couple years and the latest part of his journey, it was a no-brainer to bring him in to Everest Academy to speak with our student athletes, to share his story with a rawness and from a place of reality and vulnerability.
Our student athletes valued, accepted and related to elements of these experiences and to the openness in which Brady approached this presentation. He knocked down the walls of the typical high school presentation and delivered with truth, real emotion and his story, while respecting the listeners he had in the room.
Brady spent the day with our student athletes , not only sharing his story, but listening to theirs, embracing each and every interaction and becoming a part of the fabric of our LTAD model. Process, individuality and ownership of one’s Self.
This experience parlayed into a valuable take home assignment, both formal and informal, one our student athletes will take with them on their own journey, utilizing the elements that resonate with their process.
We look forward to having Brady as a part Everest academy into the future.
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