D Jay McGrath 
Founder, Mental Health Classic
Founder, DJMH

As a former Midget AAA, Jr A, WHL, College Athlete, D Jay has spent the past two years sharing his Mental Health journey with schools, hockey teams, and organizations across Canada. His goal is to provide support to athletes/students struggling with their mental health and create a safe space for them to open up. 

Growing up in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, D Jay faced challenges pursuing his hockey dream. Moving away at 15, he grappled with homesickness, anxiety, depression, and turned to alcohol to cope. Despite playing for the Everett Silvertips and later returning to his hometown team, the Kindersley Klippers, his Mental Health suffered. Cocaine addiction, depression, and anxiety followed during his time with the Red Deer College Kings. 

After a decade of battling addiction, D Jay reached a turning point on June 6th, 2022, when he opened up to his parents and began his journey to recovery. D Jay has been sober since that day.

His passion is to support athletes with their feelings and emotions, creating comfortable space for them to discuss their problems. He believes having a “big brother” figure in a kid’s life, someone relatable who has walked in their shoes, can be transformative.

D Jay is now living In Saskatoon with his dog Duke helping out athletes/students and continue sharing his story across Canada. 

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Mitch Berg
B.A., MSc
Founder, Optima Athletic Consulting

Mitch grew up in Saskatoon, where he played AAA U-18 hockey with the Saskatoon Blazers before continuing his career in junior hockey with the WHL and SJHL. After leaving the game, Mitch shifted his focus to helping athletes improve their mental game, believing that a strong mentality is crucial for advancing one’s career and achieving greater success. With nearly 10 years of experience as a counselor, Mitch has supported individuals struggling with mental health challenges and now works to help athletes build mental strength, boost their confidence, and overcome adversity and setbacks in their sports careers. He emphasizes that developing a strong mindset is essential for success and reaching the highest level in their respective sports. Mitch has obtained his Master’s in Sports and Exercise Psychology, furthering his commitment to helping others thrive both mentally and physically

As a former junior hockey player, Mitch understands the mental resilience required to excel at that level. Successfully navigating the emotional highs and lows of not just a season but even a single game demands careful preparation and effective emotional management.

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