KAMLOOPS — Blazers hockey school is underway this week at the Sandman Centre.
Every summer alumni return to help instruct.
Among those at this weeks camp is Darryl Sydor, a former defenceman on the team, and now a minority owner.
After spending over 25 years in pro hockey, Sydor is now moving on with life after the NHL.
Darryl Sydor was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the NHL entry draft in 1990.
He went on to play 17 NHL seasons with six different teams.
After retiring as a player in 2010, Sydor spent the next eight seasons as an assistant coach in the American League and NHL.
In May, after one season as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues, Sydor announced he is stepping away from coaching.
“It was just time to take a step back.” says Sydor. “Ive been doing it (coaching) for only eight years, but playing the game of hockey a lot longer. It’s time to give back to the family, give back to myself, and just take a step back.”
Sydor had a stellar NHL career, winning two Stanley Cups — with Dallas and Tampa Bay. But it hasn’t all been roses for the now 46 year old.
Three years ago he faced one of the darkest days of his life. Charged with impaired driving in Minnesota, with his son in the car.
Sydor said at the time that he did’nt want it to define who he was, and he confronted the demon head on. He was an alcoholic, and he needed help.
“It’s been tough, it’s something you have to look at head on.” says Sydor. “There’s been ups and downs. Whether it’s mental awareness or addiction, it’s a hard battle and you’ve got to stay on top of it. I’m lucky I have a second chance. That day I don’t like to look back at too often, but I do also not want to forget it. Drastic things could have happened. There’s still issues that I have to deal with. Anybody in my situation, it’s never forgotten, and it’s never undealt with —- it’s something you have for life. It’s a disease.”
Sydor says he cherishes life a lot more since that dark day in August 2015.
It’s life after the NHL, for now, but not necessarily life after hockey. Darryl Sydor, his wife Sharlene and their four sons will make their home in Kamloops year around.
He says he loves to coach kids, and intends to help out with the Thompson Blazers major midget team, on which his 15 year old son will play.
And of course attend more games of the team in which he is a minority owner — the Kamloops Blazers.
“I’ll be here more often.” says Sydor. “I’m excited to get to see more games. And just get more feel of what’s going on around the city. I’m really looking forward to that. We have a good ownership group, and now that I’ll be here, who knows what it will entail.”
