Calgary Flames prospect Michael Ferland looks back on 'best decision I ever made'

[MissTeeks]

I know this was in the game thread today, but I thought this article deserved its own thread:

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/27...on-i-ever-made

Calgary Flames rookie Michael Ferland had just sweat through a lengthy bag-skate, fully aware he would be a healthy scratch for a crucial contest against the Minnesota Wild.
That wasn’t going to spoil this special day.
The 22-year-old left-winger marked a significant personal milestone Friday, reaching one year of sobriety.
“This is probably one of the biggest days of my life,” Ferland said proudly. “I never ever thought I’d quit drinking and be sober for a year and be where I am right now. When I look back at everything I’ve been through, that was the best decision I ever made in my life.”
It was in the days leading up to March 27, 2014, that Ferland — admitting “everything kind of fell apart” after he’d suffered a season-ending knee injury in American Hockey League action — realized it was time for a change.

After a meeting with Flames head coach Bob Hartley, who had been starting to worry about the well-being of the power-forward prospect, Ferland entered a one-month treatment program.
“I watch those guys like a mother hawk, and I was noticing problems with Ferly,” Hartley said. “He opened up, and we got him some help. For me, coaching is to win hockey games but ... lives are way more important than careers. I don’t believe that you can have a career if you don’t have a normal life. That’s what I explained to him. He broke down in my office, and I went to see Brian (Burke) and we got it going.
“I’m tremendously proud of Ferly,” Hartley added. “He’s a changed man. Obviously, that’s going to be a daily battle, probably for the rest of his life, but he’s doing it with great pride and, obviously, we’re all very supportive of him.
“I think it’s a great victory for Michael.”

In his off-ice battle, his lengthy list of supporters has included longtime girlfriend Kayleigh Chapman, McGrattan and Mike Thompson, the strength and conditioning coach for the Flames’ farm club in both Abbotsford and now Adirondack.
“The first little bit was really hard,” Ferland said Friday. “At times, I didn’t think I could do it anymore. I didn’t want to do it anymore. I got sick of it. I thought, ‘Life is boring now, I need a drink.’ That’s when I called Grats and called (Thompson). That’s when I needed their help. They just talked with me, talked me through it.
“Like I said, that was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m playing here right now. Life is good.”

Asked later if Ferland — a fifth-round selection of the Flames in 2010 — would be earning an NHL paycheque today if he hadn’t quit drinking, Hartley replied: “That’s the unknown, but I wouldn’t be a betting man.”
“Going from Abbotsford, down to the East Coast, going back to junior ... Just the way things were going, I don’t even know if I would still be playing hockey if I was still going down the road,” Ferland said a few minutes later. “That was the biggest thing I thought about — if I kept doing what I was doing, maybe I’ll slip by for half the year and maybe play a few games. But if I stopped and just focused on hockey, maybe I could have a good career.
“And that’s what I chose.”

[dammage79]

I hope the Flames make a spot in management for Big Ern in a player development aspect. I think he'd be a HUGE mentor for a lot of players.

Good for Ferland to make the choices he's made. That brush with a criminal record a couple years back probably opened his eyes a bit.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I hope the Flames make a spot in management for Big Ern in a player development aspect. I think he'd be a HUGE mentor for a lot of players.

Good for Ferland to make the choices he's made. That brush with a criminal record a couple years back probably opened his eyes a bit.

Maybe he can join Gary Roberts and work on getting stronger mentally and making good choices

[FlameZilla]

"I watch those guys like a mother hawk."

I love you Bob Hartley.

[metroneck]

I have 18 staff under my care in my dept (3 levels of management), many of them just 'kids' starting their careers or are new in managerial roles.

I find Bob Hartley so inspiring when I read about his leadership style. The person first, the job second.

Love that guy.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

"I watch those guys like a mother hawk."

I love you Bob Hartley.

Mom Hawk~ley?

But overall, good on Ferland to be brave enough to do this. To realize at age 22 too. Wow. Good on him.

[tvp2003]

Ferland is going to be a player. Only gonna get better.

Will be cheering for him both on and off the ice...

[Mony]

I love our management. Hockey is just a game after all. They're clearly invested in their players' lives. Love it.

[Trailer Fire]

I love Brian McGrattan. I have a feeling he was a huge guiding influence for Ferland.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

Favorite prospect. I'm proud of him, and how awesome for him to have Big Ern as a mentor.

[killer_carlson]

this is why I have no problem if the Flames offer McGrattan a contract next year, even if he plays the year in the AHL (or parts of it).

[Reggie Dunlop]

Good luck to Michael. It's a decision he has to make every day going forward. It's courageous to come out publicly.

Knowing a bit of his backstory, he's already beat some long odds to get where he is now.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by metroneck

I have 18 staff under my care in my dept (3 levels of management), many of them just 'kids' starting their careers or are new in managerial roles.

I find Bob Hartley so inspiring when I read about his leadership style. The person first, the job second.

Love that guy.

I also like the story behind how his leadership style evolved . Just a man working in Quebec installing car windows in a factory, then one day a buddy asks him to coach a team. That team leads him into a chamionship. He gets his call up to tuthe next stage then the next stage.

He has won a chamionship at every level he has coached. He has also worked his way through the system. He has worked with players at almost every age level. What a great mentor for all this young men to talk to.

[C-ero]

I love this organization.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

this is why I have no problem if the Flames offer McGrattan a contract next year, even if he plays the year in the AHL (or parts of it).

They can just give him a consulting position, no need to spend a contract though.

[btimbit]

Way to go team, and huge props and congrats to Ferland.

[bigbadboss101]

Pay someone $500,000 less and open up a position for Brian.

[Tyler]

McGrattan HAS been an amazing influence on Ferland:

Spoiler!

Chill out, I'm just joking around

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

They can just give him a consulting position, no need to spend a contract though.

I think he is more effective if he's building a repore in the dressing room and is a member of the team on road trips, etc.

I have zero problem burning a contract on this. Zero.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I think he is more effective if he's building a repore in the dressing room and is a member of the team on road trips, etc.

I have zero problem burning a contract on this. Zero.

Those guys are in the gym every single day, just add him to the strength and conditioning team, that seems to make the most sense.