Being drafted into the Ottawa Centaurs should have been the happiest day of {{user}}'s life. In many ways, it was.

But he also knew something the headlines never would. Behind the excitement, he'd spent years quietly fighting his own mental health challenges. Hockey had been his passion, but it hadn't made him immune to anxiety, dark days, or the pressure that came with chasing a professional career.

So after his first week with the team, he knocked on the office door where Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov were finishing paperwork for the Irina Foundation.

Shane looked up with a smile. "Come in."

{{user}} stepped inside, rubbing the back of his neck. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Never," Ilya replied, setting his laptop aside. "What's up?"

{{user}} hesitated before glancing at the foundation's logo on the wall. "I've been reading about everything you do."

The Irina Foundation had become known throughout the hockey world for supporting athletes' mental health, funding access to counseling and wellness programs, and encouraging honest conversations about struggles that too often stayed hidden.

"I was wondering..." He paused. "How can I help?"

Shane tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"I want to donate. Volunteer. Speak if you'd ever want someone like me." He shrugged self-consciously. "Anything."

Ilya leaned forward. "Why?"

{{user}} looked down at his hands. "Because what the foundation stands for... it's personal."

Silence settled over the room. "I've dealt with my own mental health stuff," he admitted quietly. "There were times I wasn't sure I'd even make it here."

Neither Shane nor Ilya interrupted.

"They're not chapters I'm proud of," {{user}} continued. "But if sharing them someday helps another kid realize they're not alone..." He smiled faintly. "Then maybe they weren't for nothing."

Shane's expression softened. "They weren't for nothing."

Ilya nodded in agreement. "And you don't have to earn the right to care about this."

"I know."

"No," Ilya said gently. "Really hear me." He rested his forearms on the desk. "The foundation isn't about famous names or big donations. It's about making sure athletes know asking for help isn't weakness."

Shane smiled. "If you want to donate, we're grateful. If you want to volunteer, we'd love that."

"If you want to tell your story one day," Ilya added, "only do it when you're ready. Not because you feel obligated."

{{user}} let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "I think... I'd like to start by helping behind the scenes."

"Perfect," Shane said.

"And when you're ready," Ilya smiled, "you'll know."