STOP CONCUSSIONS
Winnipeg’ s
Kerry Goulet:
The Drive to Stop Concussions
Kerry Goulet, the co-founder of stopconcussions. com doesn’ t have the same high-profile name that his friend and colleague Keith Primeau does. But make no mistake, the kid from Winnipeg was a tremendous hockey player. After starting his hockey career at Winakwa Community Centre, he progressed through the St. Boniface Saints organization, moved over to the Winnipeg Monarchs, played in the WHL and built a huge career in Europe. He’ s one of Manitoba’ s gifts to the game.
By Scott Taylor Photos courtesy Kerry Goulet and stopconcussions. com
KERRY GOULET WINNING THE GERMAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1993
Kerry Goulet might live in Toronto, but he was born and raised in Winnipeg and Winnipeg is still near and dear to his heart.
Goulet learned to skate with his mom at St. Vital park and it was in Winnipeg where he learned the game of hockey went on to star in junior and later in ballhockey.
In fact, his Winnipeg Grasshoppers represented Manitoba in eight national ball-hockey championships, collecting the title in 1985. In 2006, Kerry was inducted into the Canadian Ball Hockey Association’ s Hall of Fame and credits his experience with Hockey Manitoba and ball-hockey with assisting in honing his skills for a successful international ice hockey career. That career was so successful, he spent 16 seasons as a player, coach and general manager with six different
teams in the German First, Second and Third Division.
Known in Germany as‘ Mr. Eishockey,’ his 1997 points collected in 505 games earned Goulet the honor of having his No. 29 jersey retired by the Timmendorfer Eisbars. In fact, his jersey was retired on the same night that fellow Winnipegger Mark MacKay had his jersey retred. At the age of 52, he was asked back to his old club in Germany to attempt to collect 2000 points. He accomplished that feat with a goal and two assists on a night in which his team won 5-3.
Kerry’ s coaching record was also sensational, with 312 wins in 452 games.
One of Goulet’ s hockey and ball-hockey teammates, the late Robert Vielfaure, suffered a broken neck that left him a quadriplegic 40 years ago. Using Robert’ s injury as motivation, Kerry has dedicated much of his off-ice energy to charitable causes. His main focus has been directed toward concussions and spinal cord injuries in sport.
“ One of the lessons learned by Robert’ s plight,” Goulet said,“ was that It is not what you collect along your journey-- championships, scoring races, trophies, money, cars-- but what you give back.“ That will be your legacy.” Goulet is one of the founders of stopconcussions. com with Keith Primeau, former captain of the Philadelphia Flyers and is co-chairman of Shoot For A Cure.
As Global Director of stopconcussions. com, Goulet has formed an alliance with Barry Munro of the Canadian and American Spinal Research Organization to re-launch Shoot For A Cure. This is a campaign that has and will help educate coaches, trainers, parents and athletes about the cause, effects and consequences of neurotrauma
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