Beyond the Mask: Clint and Joanie Malarchuk Open Up About Mental Health, PTSD, and the Healing Power of Love
Clint Malarchuk has been called many things: NHL goaltender, cowboy, survivor. But few know the man behind the mask.
He nearly lost his life on live television in one of the most horrifying injuries in sports history. But it wasn’t the severed jugular vein that almost killed him. It was what came after—the invisible wounds, the downward spiral, and the slow, painful path to healing. And by his side through it all was Joanie, his wife, anchor, and greatest advocate.
In an exclusive conversation for Breaking Free from Within, Clint and Joanie Malarchuk open up about the hidden toll of trauma, the long road to recovery, and their mission to change how we talk about mental health, addiction, and healing.
“I didn’t know what PTSD was. I just knew I wasn’t okay.”
Clint Malarchuck
Mental Health Advocate, Former NHL Goaltender, and Professional Speaker
Clint Malarchuk’s NHL career was marked by grit and glory. But even before his infamous on-ice accident, he was battling demons no one saw. “People think it all started with the skate to my throat,” Clint tells me, his voice steady but reflective. “But I struggled long before that—since I was a kid. Anxiety, depression, growing up with an abusive alcoholic father… the trauma was already there. The injury just lit the fuse.”
He pauses. “I didn’t know what PTSD was back then. I just thought I was crazy.”
Today, he knows better. Today, he’s using his platform to make sure others do too.
A Front-Row Seat to Pain
Joanie Malarchuk remembers the early days of their relationship fondly. The laughter, the light, the cowboy charm. But over time, she began to see signs that something deeper was unraveling.
“Every night, he’d ask me the same questions,” Joanie recalls. “‘Why do you love me? Are you sure?’ At first, I thought it was sweet. But after weeks of the same thing, night after night, I realized—this wasn’t just Clint being Clint. This was something else.”
Living with someone struggling with PTSD, depression, and addiction isn’t something you can prepare for. “There are two Clints,” Joanie says gently. “There’s the kind, funny, life-of-the-party Clint. And then there’s the Clint when he’s spinning out. And you don’t know which one you’ll get.”
Clint and Joanie Malarchuk
“There are two Clints,” Joanie says gently.
“Mental Illness Isn’t Weakness—It’s an Illness.”
One of the biggest misconceptions Clint is determined to shatter is the link between success and emotional resilience.
“People think if you’re successful—an athlete, an actor, a soldier—you must be mentally strong. But mental illness has nothing to do with toughness,” he says. “Look at our veterans. These are the most mentally tough people in the world, and yet 22 die by suicide every day.”
It’s a sobering statistic—one Clint cites often. It’s also why he and Joanie co-founded The Ranch: Teammates for Life, a treatment facility serving veterans and first responders. “We know what it’s like to feel like no one understands,” Joanie says. “That’s why we show up. That’s why we built this.”
“I used alcohol because it worked—until it didn’t.”
Clint doesn’t shy away from talking about addiction. “I was drinking up to 30 beers a day at one point,” he admits. “Because alcohol worked. It numbed the anxiety, the OCD, the depression. But soon, it wasn’t a tool—it was a crutch. And then it became a cage.”
He shares how his PTSD went undiagnosed for over two decades, and how that missing piece kept him trapped in cycles of substance use and emotional volatility. “The anger, the darkness—it wasn’t me. But it came out in ways that hurt people. Especially Joanie.”
The Unseen Battle of the Caregiver
Joanie never imagined she’d become an expert in trauma-informed care. But living with Clint forced her to learn fast. “I had to stop taking it personally,” she says. “When he was spiraling, it wasn’t about me—it was about his pain. Once I learned that, I could love him through it without losing myself.”
Her advice to others in similar roles? “Educate yourself. Find a support system. And remember—you didn’t cause this. But you can be part of the healing.”
A Second Chance, A Shared Mission
In 2008, Clint survived a suicide attempt that he says changed everything. “God spared me for a reason,” he tells me. “I believe that reason is to help others who are suffering.”
Together, Clint and Joanie travel the country, speaking to military groups, mental health organizations, and now, audiences of the upcoming Sobriety Summit. Their message is clear: healing is possible—and no one heals alone.
They’ve also teamed up with their local Reno Ice Rink to create therapeutic hockey programs for veterans, offering community, movement, and purpose. “It’s not just about the game,” Clint says. “It’s about connection. When you’ve got PTSD, connection is everything.”
“Recovery isn’t weakness. It’s the bravest thing you can do.”
As we wrap up the interview, I ask what they hope people will walk away with from their story.
“That you’re not alone,” Clint says. “You’re not weak. There’s help, there’s hope, and there’s healing.”
Joanie nods. “And that love—real love—isn’t about fixing someone. It’s about walking beside them as they find their own way back.”
For more information or support:
Visit 988lifeline.org if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis.
Learn more about Clint and Joanie’s work at malarchuk.com and theranchteammatesforlife.org.
Register for the free Sobriety Summit at sobrietysummit.live.
This article is adapted from Episode 10 of “Breaking Free from Within,” hosted by Prairie Francia. To watch the full interview, visit Alignment with Prairie Yana on YouTube.