Native Hockey News editor-in-chief Philip Paul-Martin recently spoke with former NHL player Theoran Fleury. Here is his story.
National Hockey League great Theoren Fleury’s take on his music is simple.
“We call it hockey tonk,” he says, laughing. “We’re creating our own genre. It’s a little bit of old mixed with new country.”
Fleury played in the NHL from 1988 to 2003, finishing up his professional hockey career with the Chicago Blackhawks. Now, the Olympic gold medalist takes voice lessons and sings lead for six-member band the Death Valley Rebels, based in Calgary. They rehearse twice a week, and have recorded a couple of tracks.
“I’m just learning guitar right now though,” Fleury admits.
The band's sound is unique — a little country mixed with some honky-tonk and a splash of blues. But as with all music, the hockey tonk roots have a predecessor: it was a Sunday afternoon tradition overlooking the Qu’Appelle River in St. Lazare, Man., that gave birth to Fleury’s genre of music.
“Every Sunday we’d go to my uncle’s farm and out would come the fiddles and guitars and we would be laughing and dancing and having a good time,” he says. “That’s Métis tradition.”
But it's the songwriting process that allows Fleury a creative outlet. “I have guys I write with in Calgary and Winnipeg," he explains. “It’s just ideas. The song ‘Walk With Thousands’ came from a single idea of trying to ignite the people that still haven’t found their voices. It’s my life story.”
“Walk With Thousands” is the theme song for a cause that is close to Fleury’s heart: Victor Walk. It is part of the Victor movement, which “was created to raise awareness for, and heal those who have been devastated by child sexual abuse,” according to its website.
The Stanley Cup champion drew national headlines in 2009 when his autobiography, Playing With Fire, revealed that he had been sexually abused as a youth by former hockey coach Graham James. Eventually, Fleury pressed charges and James was sentenced to two years.
This year, the Victor Walk will take Fleury and his team from the Child Abuse Monument in Toronto on May 14 to the steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 23.
Music has been an outlet for Fleury on his healing journey.
“We’re trying to help people overcome abuse and addictions, dark stories,” he says.
Fleury also credits Winnipeg-based Phil Deschambault, a former hockey player turned musician, for his musical inspiration.
“My dad used to play with him,” Fleury says. “He was a good player but just picked up a guitar and quit hockey. After my book came out I called him up and asked him to help me write songs.”
The two spent five days together and came up with “As the Story Goes,” a song that Fleury and the Death Valley Rebels now perform.
As for reception, Fleury says he’s not concerned with what others think about his foray into music.
“Everyone knows me as a hockey player. But when you have a passion for something and put your mind to something what do I care what people think?” he asks, rhetorically.
“Guess what? They told me I would never play a game in the NHL and I played a thousand."
He reflects for a moment. “Whether we play one or zero concerts, music helps heal my soul that I lost a long time ago and it’s a part of my recovery.” He pauses again.
“The greatest gift I have is the gift of freedom that’s helped me move forward and get to where I need to be.”
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