It’s Okay not to be Okay

Sean McCann, for PHPA.com | March 5th, 2019

 

Although Chuck Thuss enjoyed a professional hockey career that spanned seven seasons plus a season as the starting goaltender for Miami University where he earned a number of awards and accolades, the hockey legacy he wants to leave behind is for other players to know that it’s okay not to be okay. 

 

After experiencing first hand the highs and lows of a career in professional hockey including several years coaching following his playing career, Thuss became a Certified Professional Coach and has launched Compassionate Connection to provide support to anyone seeking assistance in pursuit of their goals and dreams. 

 

Chuck Thuss was born and raised in London, Ontario. After a successful minor hockey career, he was drafted by the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1989.  However, he constantly found himself behind better and more experienced goaltenders.

 

“I went to Ottawa’s camp but was sent back to Junior B because they already had two good goalies,” said Thuss.  “A year later I was picked in the expansion draft by the Detroit Ambassadors and played there until American Thanksgiving. They then traded for a goalie who was pretty good at the time as he had just won the Memorial Cup, so they sent me back to Junior.”

 

Thuss decided to continue his career in the NCAA with Miami (Ohio) University. He completed a double major while in school, studying Health & Sport, along with Coaching. Once again, Thuss found himself behind better goalies for his first three seasons. In the summer before his senior year, he began to train with notable goalie coach Mitch Korn. It paid off, as Thuss played 34 games in his final season, winning top goaltender for his NCAA Conference. He views that experience as an opportunity for others to learn from.

 

“As long as you believe in yourself, that’s the only person that ever has to believe in you. If you believe in yourself, you can do anything you want to. I truly believe that. It’s nice when other people support you, but ultimately you have to believe in yourself.”

 

When Thuss’ NCAA career was over, he had hopes of turning professional. He was grateful to be represented by well-known agent Steve Bartlett who leads Sport Consulting Group.  “He was able to get me a contract, plus I was also invited to some NHL training camps.”

 

Throughout his professional career, Thuss played for six different teams split between the ECHL and the former International Hockey League (IHL). He thoroughly enjoyed the early stages in his career and the players he got to share the ice with.

 

“I remember, I’ll never forget, my first exhibition game against the Las Vegas Thunder.  I look down at the other net and who was in net but none other than Curtis Joseph.  It was a wow moment for me because I grew up watching him and now I’m playing against him.”

 

In 1997, while playing for the Mobile Mysticks of the IHL, Thuss was elected by his teammates to serve as the team’s Player Representative for the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA). Shortly thereafter he became a member of the PHPA Executive Committee, helping negotiate two collective bargaining agreements.

 

“As I learned a little more about the position and what it entailed the more it intrigued me. I wanted to make sure the players were getting what they deserved and I wanted to learn what the union was all about and what it stood for. I wanted to educate my teammates about the various programs and opportunities the union was offering us, whether it be classes for schooling through the Career Enhancement Program or the health benefits, insurance, or marketing partner programs.”

 

As the 2001-02 season was set to begin, Thuss was contemplating retirement but was not sure exactly how or when he would officially retire. He had signed with the Mississippi Sea Wolves but after a discussion with Head Coach Bob Woods, Thuss was presented with an offer that included an official off-ice capacity with the team.

 

“We had an affiliation with the Montreal Canadiens and they were going to be sending a goalie down. Bob said to me ‘I want to give you an opportunity to be our Director of Player Development to work with these goalies and if we ever need you, maybe we use you on an emergency basis.’ Of course I said to Bob that it sounded fantastic.”

 

Thuss would remain in that position until 2004 when he started his own hockey equipment store, providing equipment to local teams in the area. It took a year or two before he truly realized that he would never be a professional hockey player again.

 

“I kind of knew what I was doing and where I was headed, but at the same time a huge part of me was being left behind as a hockey player. When we (players) no longer have that piece, all of a sudden the question becomes ‘Who am I? What am I good at? Where am I going?’”

 

Thuss began to suffer from depression and anxiety. Decisions became much harder for him and he was having trouble even getting out of bed. Decisions as simple as paying for the power bill became too tough for him. Then one day his symptoms hit its peak.

 

“It came to a point where I contemplated taking my own life. I was driving down the interstate and I was looking at a guard-rail and was trying to figure out if I was going to step on the gas and run my truck into the guard-rail and make it look like an accident. I was in such a bad place.”

 

“That day I made a decision to pull over and call somebody, who is now a close friend, for help. Had I not called her, I do not think that I would be here today.”

 

His friend was one of the primary reasons he decided to launch Compassionate Connection which provides coaching and consulting to anyone that is suffering from similar symptoms, feeling lost, or simply wants to talk to someone that will truly listen. He understands it is hard to admit to people you love that you are suffering, something he learned through personal experience.

 

“It was probably about eight years since having these symptoms and knowing what it meant before I truly told someone. My family didn’t know, it was really only my wife that had knowledge on this.”

 

What makes Thuss so successful at connecting with people, especially athletes, is that he has lived the lifestyle and experienced the symptoms himself. After proposing the idea of Compassionate Connection to a former classmate who loved the idea, the company took off from there. Thuss offers a unique experience to the people that reach out to him.

 

“My classmate said that the reason I would have success doing this is that if I were to stand up and tell my story, I would have instant credibility with them. You have gone through this and you know how to hold their hand, walk with them and talk with them. You can speak the language that they’re speaking and he wanted to encourage me to take this opportunity.”

 

Compassionate Connection has allowed Thuss to speak with others in need of a listener, along with offering suggestions to improve on a daily basis. These conversations can benefit Thuss as well as it reminds himself of what he must do to continue his own forward progress.

 

“With different individuals, it reminds me too of the things that I need to do. Whether it be disconnecting and allowing myself personal time. Even if it’s just going out for a walk, it reminds me of what I need to do to ensure that I am taking care of myself. We live in such a fast, busy world that it’s easy to take care of everybody else but yourself.”

 

As Thuss now looks back on his career and the struggles he had, he hopes others can learn from his story and reach out.

 

“I am open to anyone and it doesn’t matter when it is, just reach out. Make the call ( 251-680-5731 ), send the email or the text. I urge them just to reach out.”

 

He stresses his availability to others and is always willing to take a phone call or answer an email. According to Thuss, you are never truly alone.

 

“Just make the call. You truly have nothing to lose. I am not going to judge you and I truly don’t think anyone else will either. Pick up the phone and let’s have that initial conversation because I promise you that’s the hardest thing you are going to do.”