Former Oilers Defenceman Reveals What He's Doing After Retiring From The NHL
At just 27, Slater Koekkoek, once a top NHL prospect, retired two years ago after a brief stint with the Oilers.
Struggling with pressure and unmet expectations, he left the game early. In a recent interview, he shared his journey, now doing odd jobs like snow clearing and yard work in Ottawa.
»These days, you can often find him clearing driveways and laneways after big snowfalls. In the fall, he was helping with yard cleanups in Ottawa.»
«I'm trained from the school of YouTube. I'm A-plus as a hard worker. And what I don't know, I'll try and learn, he said. But you probably wouldn't want me doing your crown molding.»
Despite his challenges, including anxiety and an eating disorder, he's finding new purpose.
Koekkoek went into detail about how his anxiety manifested into an eating disorder.
«I would say I played a majority of my professional games without the ability to eat much, if anything, the night before and the day of the games. Hockey Night in Canada on a completely empty stomach? Let's do this, I guess.»
«I would say I played a majority of my professional games without the ability to eat much, if anything, the night before and the day of the games. Hockey Night in Canada on a completely empty stomach? Let's do this, I guess.»
With support from his wife and former teammate, Brandon Perlini, he's exploring different roles, including developing a service to connect workers with employers. Fans are rooting for him in retirement, especially after learning about his mental health battles.
Source: Oilersdaily
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