Slater Koekkoek was the 10th overall pick back in 2012, however, the 27-year-old elected for early retirement in order to prioritize his mental health. While he didn't pan out as a traditional first-round pick, this led him to deal with anxiety and ultimately retire to find a new purpose, and that has been doing odd jobs.
In the interview with The Athletic's Ian Mendes, Koekkoek opened up about how he experienced anxiety while playing in the NHL, ultimately impacting his health and performance while on the ice.
Koekkoek has pursued a number of odd jobs in retirement, including volunteering at his local Tim Hortons to work. Others include shovelling driveways when a big storm hits, or doing handiwork around the community.
Now, he has started a new initiative to pair people who need employment with employers who are facing labour shortages, something he calls Fulfill Your Life Work.
