Jack Campbell is stepping away from hockey, as he announced his retirement in an Instagram video on Sunday night. But it wasn't a typical announcement of hanging up the skates, as it was more about a transition to a new career and chapter of his life.
Campbell, drafted 11th overall in the 2010 NHL draft by the Dallas Stars, featured in nine NHL seasons. He played in a total of 176 games with the Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers.
The goaltender's best years came in Toronto, where he played parts of three seasons. He played 77 games for the Leafs, and during that stretch, he averaged a .916 save percentage and a 2.50 goals-against average.
In his Instagram video, Campbell admitted to going through some challenging periods during his hockey career.
"I'm super grateful for my days of playing, but what a lot of people don't see is the personal battle I went through throughout my career," Campbell said. "Not having someone to hold me accountable for having a well-balanced life, that's when I found, four years ago, my life coach, who's completely changed everything for me.
Campbell revealed that he's worked with multiple therapists to help him through his battles, including sports psychologists, therapists, life coaches, and other mental health professionals.
With what he learned on this personal journey, Campbell is making a career transition, walking away from hockey and becoming a life coach with Novus Global.
Novus Global, an executive and leadership development and coaching firm, has multiple coaches and staff who are retired athletes, including former NHLers Andrew Ladd, who is the director of Novus Global sport, athletes and teams, and Blake Wheeler, who is an executive coach.
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