Whenever Blake Wheeler endured mental health challenges in his hockey career, he felt better when he talked about them and sought help.
When the NHL Players' Association introduced a pilot program to teach players the basics of mental health, Wheeler was on board to give it a try. On Wednesday the union unveiled its First Line program, an initiative with Mental Health Commission of Canada that is now available to players who want to learn more about the topic.
"We're opening a door that hasn't been opened before and giving guys just a little bit of a feel that, if something pops up in your life, if you need a little bit of support, you have a few guys who have been trained a little bit," said Wheeler, who is in his 16th season and first with the New York Rangers.