Coaches, former players discuss mental health, tell hockey stories at The Ranch -- Teammates for Life event

HAM LAKE, Minn. — The second annual The Ranch — Teammates for Life four-person golf scramble was held on Monday, Aug. 29, at Majestic Oaks Golf Club. There were 134 registered golfers for the event, which raises money to renovate a building at The Eagle's Healing Nest in Sauk Centre.

The Ranch — Teammates for Life is a nonprofit organization that is aimed at providing healthy and purposeful life for those who have suffered trauma in their lives — former athletes, military veterans, and first responders as well as their families.

Mark Pavelich, a 1980 Miracle on Ice team member, was spending time at The Eagle's Healing Nest when he committed suicide on March 3, 2021. Before he died, he made a contribution to the organization. The Ranch — Teammates for Life was founded to provide education, intervention, guidance, and treatment when dealing with brain trauma, mental illness, and disorders associated with it.

At the golf event, there were a number of hockey coaches and former players who participated. The Rink Live's Jess Myers and Mick Hatten caught up with a handful of the participants, who talked about helping with mental health and told some hockey stories.

Former St. Scholastica and Augsburg University coach Mark Wick talks to hockey teams throughout the area about mental health. Wick battles depresssion and anxiety and his message to those groups is that they are not alone.

Clint Malarchuk played goalie in the NHL for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres from 1981-92. Malarchuk is also the author of "A Matter of Inches: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond." Malarchuk's neck was cut by a skate and he nearly died during an NHL game in 1989. He played in the NHL suffering high anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder. Malarchuk discusses how he suffered PTSD from the event and nearly took his own life after he retired. Malarchuk is on the Board of Directors for The Ranch. He discusses some of his struggles, how he is trying to help others and tells some stories from his playing career.

Tom Gorence, who is also on the Board of Directors for The Ranch, played forward for the University of Minnesota from 1975-77 and then played in the NHL for the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers from 1978-84. Gorence discusses how he got involved with The Ranch, playing for the Gophers under Herb Brooks, tells some NHL stories and what it was like to be a teammate of Reed Larson.

John Harrington, who grew up in Virginia, Minn., was a teammate and linemate of Pavelich's both at the University of Minnesota Duluth and on the 1980 Olympic team. Harrington played for UMD from 1975-79 and played in two Olympics (1984). Since retiring he has been a coach and he has been the Minnesota State University-Mankato women's hockey head coach since 2015. Harrington discusses what Pavelich was like as a teammate, what the Eveleth vs. Virginia rivalry was like when he was growing up and how the outlook on the mental health of players is evolving.

Paul Martin grew up in Elk River and played defense for the University of Minnesota from 2000-03. Martin helped the Gophers win back-to-back national titles his last two seasons before playing in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks from 2003-18. Martin is a graduate assistant coach for the Gophers talks about the coming college season, what it is like when he sees his former teammates and the importance of mental health in players.

Adam Krause, who is from Hermantown, Minn., played center for the University of Minnesota Duluth from 2011-15. Krause played pro hockey from 2015-18 and has been coaching the men's team at UMD since 2018 and was recently promoted to associate head coach. Krause talks about the expectations for the Bulldogs, the turnover on the team’s roster and trying to help players with their mental health.