Paralympic Winter Games at 50: Paul Rosen makes big save in life

Paul Rosen is a three-time Paralympian who backstopped Canada to the gold medal in Para ice hockey in 2006. It was a proud moment in the 65-year-old’s incredible life, but not the highest light.

‘’I had some serious issues after I retired from the game in 2010,’’ said Rosen, from Thornhill, Ont. ‘’Addiction issues, mental health issues.’’

There were even suicide attempts.

‘’I’m very open with that. I want people to see the story. All they saw was a successful goaltender for Team Canada doing great things. They didn’t see the demons I had in my life when the door shut.’’

So for the past 15 years, Rosen has travelled coast to coast to coast as a motivational speaker. He talks about addiction, mental health and that there is a “light at the end of the tunnel.”

‘’Isolation is the worst possible thing, I did that for years’’ Rosen said, in an interview with the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “I’m now three years clean and sober, and it is the thing I’m most proud of.

“More proud than winning a gold medal in 2006.”

Rosen wrote a book on his journey entitled ‘’Never Give Up – The Meaning of my Life’’ in 2021. Purchase HERE.

‘’I’ll always be there for anybody especially in Canada through Hockey Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. They are the organizations that have given hope to youth that thought they had no chance.”

Rosen joined Canada’s national team in 2001 and competed at three Paralympic Winter Games. He earned gold in 2006 in Torino and finished fourth place in 2002 and 2010. He also backstopped Canada to world championship gold in 2008.

Over his career he posted a 55-15-1 record and an incredible 1.04 goals-against average with 25 shutouts in 72 career games. He was 40 when he joined the national team, and became the oldest ever Para ice hockey rookie Paralympian in 2002.

About 25 years earlier Rosen broke his leg in 14 places, catching his skate in a rut which eventually led to numerous surgeries and an amputation.

He was also a member of Canada’s first ever men’s sitting volleyball team which competed at the 2007 Parapan American Games. There is no doubt that sport is Rosen’s life and today he gets to talk about its importance in his motivational speaking engagements and as the instantly recognizable raspy-voiced TSN and CBC colour commentator for Para ice hockey since 2011.

As an astute observer of Para sport, Rosen is thrilled with how the Paralympic Movement has evolved since his playing days.

“It’s unbelievable,’’ he said. ‘’There’s equality now. Equality between a Paralympian and Olympian. If you are a Paralympian and you win the gold medal you are going to get treated the same way. That’s all you want as a Paralympian.’’

‘’I have been a person with a disability for 25 years and I’m prouder of that today, than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Of course, Rosen is following the current Para ice hockey world championships in Buffalo. Canada, the defending champions, faces Czechia Friday in the semifinals and appears on course to clash with the Americans again in the final.

‘’I’m very impressed with the team, I love Russ Herrington, he is an incredible coach,’’ Rosen said. ‘’Canada is a young team, and he has them on the right path. Getting that world title last year got the monkey off their back.

‘’I would love nothing more than to see them win gold in 2026, 20 years after our victory.’’

For more information on Paul and to book him for motivational speaking engagements visit: https://www.paulrosen.ca/