Sports Series: Former pro hockey player keen to resume motivational talks in Indigenous communities

By Sam Laskaris

AAMJIWNAANG FIRST NATION – Though it has been about a decade since he played his last professional hockey game, Jason Simon is hoping for a quick return to normality so he can get back to what he loves doing.

Simon, a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation in southwestern Ontario, suited up for franchises in 12 different pro circuits, including the National Hockey League (NHL), during his playing days.

But for the past several years, Simon has been crisscrossing North America as a motivational speaker. He especially enjoys visiting Indigenous communities where he thrives on talking to students about his own successes and struggles, which included alcohol and drug abuse, as well as the importance of physical and mental well-being.

“That’s my calling,” Simon said of his talks. “I look at it as if I was brought here to do this. It’s such a blessing to have this platform to get my message across.”

Simon, 51, is unsure when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions will be fully lifted and it will be safe for him to hit the road again to spread his message. He has been itching to get back into various Indigenous communities since mid-March 2020.

“When this [pandemic] hit, I was on a 20-city tour,” he said.

Simon was in Alberta when his tour was halted. Besides Alberta, his latest tour was to include events in Ontario and in the state of Oregon.

“I love going to First Nations that have schools in their community,” he said.

Simon said it is ideal when he can speak to elementary school students in the morning and those in high school in the afternoon.

“And then at night, I’ll go give a talk for community members,” he said.

Simon ended up appearing in five NHL contests, four with the New York Islanders and one with the then Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes.

But he also appeared in more than 800 other pro contests, including for squads in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League.

Simon said the fact he was a pro athlete is a plus for him since he can command attention from those he is taking to.

“They take it to heart,” he said. “They’re going to put down their phones and listen. Here’s a guy who grew up on the reserve just like them and he made it. They’re very curious on how he did it.”

Simon believes it is also important to include his full life story, including moments when he had suicidal thoughts and mentions of his substance abuse. He has been sober and clean for about six years now.

“I talk to them and tell them life is not perfect,” he said. “It’s going to throw a lot of things at you. I’m not perfect. But I had the ability to pick myself up, dust myself off and make it.”

Simon knows he is making a difference.

“I talk to a lot of principals, teachers and student counsellors,” he said. “And they always tell me I had an impact. I get that everywhere I go.”

And Simon does not simply go into communities and lose touch with those he’s talked to.

“Everywhere I go I tell the kids my phone is on 24-7,” he said. “Anything they want to talk about they can get in touch.”

Simon, who was known for his physical play during his career, had more than 300 fights during his career. He has symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a degenerative disease found in people that have taken numerous blows to the head.

“The headaches are not that bad,” he said. “But when I get them I have to lay down. For me, it’s more like the irritability that comes out. I’m like a little baby. I have a lot of patience but sometimes I will just snap and I have to have a timeout.”

This story is part of an Anishinabek News series, written by Sam Laskaris, profiling former athletes with Anishinabek ties.