In an NHL Dressing Room with Barrie Stafford

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes pass into the world of professional sports!

On Life Shouldn’t Hurt, join host Grant Fedoruk and co-host Anita Cassidy as they welcome a true legend: Barrie Stafford!

For decades, Barrie was the equipment manager for the Edmonton Oilers, seeing it all from the glory days to the championships. He was an unsung hero, the glue behind the scenes, the confidant who heard everything.

Hear incredible stories from Barrie’s 38 years in the NHL – like the hilarious truth about Dave Semenko’s training and the fact that some players actually used to smoke between periods!

Barrie reveals what it was like working with Hall of Famers, including why Wayne Gretzky was one of the easiest guys he ever worked with. Get insights into the demanding daily life of an equipment manager, the long hours starting at 6 AM and often ending at 1 AM on game nights, and how the dressing room staff has grown from just a few to around 50 people today.

Learn about the evolution of player equipment, from the intense focus on skates where players like Paul Coffee pushed for extreme stiffness, to how the team budgeted for only about three pairs a year back then.

It’s not just about hockey! This is a conversation about the business of sport and the impact behind the scenes, exploring life lessons Barrie learned, emphasizing gratitude, humility, kindness, and happiness.

Don’t miss this fascinating look at life on and off the ice, straight from someone who lived it!

Find more of our shows:

on Spotify and Apple Podcast and please give us a follow and/or a like while you’re there.

Support our movement:

Every episode of Life Shouldn’t Hurt is dedicated to helping people navigate life’s toughest challenges with empathy, insight, and real solutions. Your support ensures we can continue to bring expert advice, heartfelt conversations, and impactful stories to those who need them most. If Life Shouldn’t Hurt has made a difference in your life or the lives of others, please consider a financial contribution. Every donation, big or small, helps sustain our mission—to create a world where healing, hope, and resilience thrive.

Thank you for believing in the power of this work. Together, we can continue making a difference

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1555943/support

In Health,  Grant Fedoruk

This information is not meant to replace the advice or treatment of a qualified physician or physiotherapist.  It is meant for information only.  Please seek an assessment and discuss your treatment options with your caregiver prior to making a decision about your treatment path.