By Scott Roblin

Theo Fleury shares remarkable story of recovery with local inmates

Sep 26, 2017 | 5:04 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Theo Fleury has etched his name in Calgary Flames lore as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

However, it’s his work off the ice that’s changing lives, as he met with a unique group in Medicine Hat on Tuesday.

Fleury spoke to a group of individuals he called ‘the forgotten part of society,’ inmates at the Medicine Hat Remand Centre.

“I’ve been to many prisons and I often say that this is the best thing that we get to do,” said Fleury. “It’s fun to speak in corporations, charity events and all that, but this is real.”

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Fleury addressed around 35 inmates in an almost three hour, closed-door session, sharing his story of sexual abuse, trauma, and addiction.

Remand Centre director Kevin Fuhrmann organized the event, and said it was amazing to see the inmates open up to the former NHLer.

“It was quite an emotional day,” said Fuhrmann. “They laughed, they cried, it was quite the experience to be a part of.”

Fleury played 15 years in the National Hockey League, mostly in Calgary, and won a Stanley Cup with the Flames in his rookie season in 1989.

However, Fleury shocked the hockey community in 2009, opening up about his story of sexual abuse by disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James in the 1980s.

Celebrating 12 years of sobriety, Fleury has battled alcohol and drug addictions, depression, and suicide.

Fuhrmann said it’s a life that many of the inmates share with Fleury.

“Theo can relate with a lot of the inmates here with mental health, with trauma, with additions.”

“I have a lot in common with them,” said Fleury. “I just didn’t get caught, that’s the only thing I think that separates our experience.”

One point that Fleury stressed to the inmates was the need for support while overcoming trauma.

“It’s okay to ask for help,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you’re weak, it actually means you’re a person of tremendous courage and strength. I didn’t get that concept for a long time.”

Although he led a storied career on the ice, Fleury said he’d trade it all away for ‘what he was put on this earth to do.’

“I would give all that stuff back,” said Fleury. “Because, the work that I get to do, the people that I get to see and the experiences that I had, there’s nothing better.”

According to Fuhrmann, the Remand Centre is considering holding more of these speaking engagements in future years.