CHUCK THUSS

FOUNDER/CO-HOST

FOUNDER/CEO – COMPASSIONATE CONNECTION
PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
CERTIFIED LIFE, RELATIONSHIP, & SPIRITUAL COACH
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE

Born in Strathroy, Ontario, Chuck Thuss is a Miami University (Ohio) graduate with a double major in Health and Sports Studies and a minor in Coaching. As a walk-on goaltender, Chuck worked his way up the depth chart and earned a scholarship his senior year, along with several league and team awards: Central Collegiate Hockey Association – Goalie of the Year, All-League; Miami University (Ohio) – Athlete of the Year; Team MVP; 1st Team All-American, and the recipient of the Terry Flanagan Award – honoring a player for perseverance, dedication and courage, while overcoming severe adversity.

Chuck played a combined eight years professionally as a hockey goaltender in the old International Hockey League, American Hockey League, and East Coast Hockey League. He spent thefollowing few years as an assistant coach for the ECHL’s Mississippi SeaWolves. In addition, he has coached on the international hockey stage, serving as the head coach and co-head coach for Team USA at The World Championships of Inline Hockey and The World Games. He helped guide Team USA to a bronze medal and five gold medal victories and was awarded the United States Olympic Committee’s Volunteer Coach of The Year award in 2011.

Chuck owned and operated Southern Sports Supply for over a decade. He is founder/CEO of Compassionate Connection, and founder/Co-Host of Warriors Unmasked – The Podcast. A professional speaker, as well as, a certified Life, Relationship, and Spiritual Coach, Chuck is a mental health advocate working with active and retired elite athletes encouraging them to be the best version of themselves they can be.

Chuck now resides in Mobile, Alabama, with his wife Jamie, and two daughters, Bethany and Brooke. He enjoys playing golf, reading, working out, and spending time with his family.

Having the opportunity to connect with so many wonderful and spirited individuals has been an amazing gift on this journey.

- Chuck Thuss

CLINT MALARCHUK

FOUNDER/ CO-HOST

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
www.malarchuk.com
A MATTER OF INCHES HOW I SURVIVED IN THE CREASE & BEYOND IN THE U.S.
THE CRAZY GAME HOW I SURVIVED IN THE CREASE AND BEYOND IN CANADA

Clint Malarchuk was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, where he played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He went on to play professionally in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, the Washington Capitals, the Buffalo Sabres, and in the old International Hockey League for the Las Vegas Thunder.

After leaving the NHL as a goaltender, he served as head coach for both the old International Hockey League’s Las Vegas Thunder and the Idaho Steelheads. He served as a goaltending coach for

the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets prior to becoming a goaltending consultant for the Atlanta Thrashers and later the Calgary Flames. He retired from consulting in 2014.

While tending goal for the Buffalo Sabres, Malarchuk almost lost his life when a skate severed his jugular vein. The trauma of the incident set Malarchuk up for years of struggles with undiagnosed post traumatic (“PTSD”).

His mental illness brought him to a suicide attempt. To this day Malarchuk still has a bullet permanently lodged in his head.

Realizing how lucky he was to survive, Malarchuk became aware of how many people struggle in silence with mental illness. A founder/co-host of Warriors Unmasked – The Podcast, Clint continues to advocate for mental health and is known for his favorite quote, “You are not alone”, one he repeats in an effort to connect and help support those struggling in their lives.

His memoir, A Matter of Inches: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond in the U.S. and The Crazy Game: How I Survived in the Crease and Beyond in Canada, was published in 2014.