Brain Health, Traumatic Brain Injury with NHL Alumni Al Secord

Health, Wealth and The Ultimate Self

In Episode 9 I sit down and have the pleasure of interviewing NHL Alumni and recently retired American Airlines Captain, Al Secord.

Over the last couple of years we have been fortunate to get to know Al off the ice and he is by far one of our favorite people to sit down with and chat. From hockey to health, Al is honest and passionate about everything he touches in life and this makes for great conversation as well as life perspective.

Drafted in the first round of the NHL draft, 16th overall, to the Boston Bruins Al began a very successful NHL career in 1978. Al made the Bruins roster as a 20 year old and in our podcast we discuss what his first taste of an NHL camp was like and what it took to make the roster of the an NHL team.

Al had his best season while playing for the Chicago Blackhawks where he scored 54 goals and 32 assists in the 1982-83 season. In total Al played 766 games in the NHL and notes he was told he was in approximately 170 fights. That is approximately one fight every 4 to 5 games for 12 years. This was at a time where the NHL was like other contact sports and did not fully know the long term effects of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

After Al retired from the NHL he started his second successful career as a pilot. Al eventually was hired by American Airlines where he served as captain and just recently retired last month after a long and successful career in the air.

Regardless if it was the NHL or the American Airlines, what we love best about Al is how he pours his heart into everything he touches and it is contagious when you sit down and talk with him.

In our podcast we discuss his journey as an NHL player, American Airline Pilot, parent and health advocate and what he has done to keep his health in tip-top shape. 65 years young and Al looks like he is in his 20-30's on the ice, keeping up with the younger generations still on the ice.

Al shares his experience with the Amen clinic and his brain scan and we discuss how his follow up brain scans at the Amen clinic actually improved over the years as he implemented various brain based strategies to support and improve his brain function. From regular labs, dialing in nutrition, to the right types of exercise, Al shares his inspiring story on how concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries can have a gameplan post career where you can take control and focus on supporting your future and brain health.

We hope you enjoy today's episode featuring Al Secord. Please share and let others know if they have had a history of concussion and TBI that there is hope out there!