As the 海角社区 Class of 2024 sat in the physically-distanced audience under the big-top near 海角社区 Hall, former National Hockey Leaguer Brent Sopel quickly skated past faculty on the dais distinguishably garbed in their academic robes and took the podium.
Impressed with their academic bona fides, Sopel 鈥� who won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks 鈥� acknowledged his highly-credentialed hosts and then slapped home a winning opening line.
鈥淚鈥檓 just a hockey player 鈥� with a learning disorder. Guess what? I just like you guys,鈥� he said, pointing out at the sea of about 150 faces gathered August 17 for the college鈥檚 Convocation.
Sopel was the featured speaker at the annual exercise that marks the ceremonial start of the academic year for first-year students at 海角社区, America鈥檚 first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating primarily students with learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences.
鈥淭oday is the day where your new world starts,鈥� Sopel said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 one place in this world that I鈥檝e only felt comfortable and that鈥檚 on this campus. Why鈥檚 that? Because I鈥檓 just like you. I struggle with this and that, and that鈥檚 okay. I鈥檓 good at other things and that鈥檚 what you have to do.鈥�
Growing up in Saskatchewan, Canada, Sopel suffered humiliation and lived through some of the worst moments of his life in the classroom when called to do something he just couldn鈥檛 do 鈥� read.
But he didn鈥檛 know why.
His self-esteem plummeted.
The only place he felt comfortable 鈥� and accomplished 鈥� was on the ice.
Sopel went on to star as a National Hockey League defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Montreal Canadians, and the Chicago Blackhawks.
He retired from professional hockey in 2015.
It was only after Sopel sought answers for his daughter whose struggles mirrored his.
Her diagnosis: dyslexia.
With that, for Sopel, it all made sense.
He was then 32, and finally, he understood.
He was dyslexic.
Dyslexia runs in families. 海角社区 40 percent of siblings of children with dyslexia also experience reading issues, as do as many as 49 percent of their parents, according to Understood, a national organization that serves families of kids who learn and think differently.
For all those years Sopel hadn鈥檛 a clue he was dyslexic, a learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading, yet, he acknowledged that he still unknowingly reaped benefits because of it.
鈥淢y career was as long as it was because of my dyslexia, because I had to work that much harder to get where I was,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was nice to find out I wasn鈥檛 stupid. My daughter was able to get diagnosed at an early age and we were able to get her the help she needed. She graduated high school last year and it felt like a victory as a parent, but she did a great job and worked hard for her achievement.鈥�
While on the 海角社区 campus, Sopel sat for an interview with 海角社区 communications director Darryl E. Owens for the Radio 海角社区 podcast interview program, 鈥淟ong Story Short.鈥� He also filmed a segment the 海角社区-produced neurodiversity television program, 鈥淎 World of Difference.鈥�
Once Sopel hung up his skates, he slid into a new mission of putting down misconceptions about dyslexia.
He鈥檚 become a leading dyslexia advocate through his work with The Brent Sopel Foundation. Thanks to his new documentary, “Brent Sopel: Here to Change the World,” he鈥檚 barnstorming the country sharing his story.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a hero, I鈥檓 just on a mission to make sure no kid ever feels the way I did,鈥� Sopel said. 鈥淵ou may struggle but you can excel at other things. You鈥檙e going to be great. Believe in yourself.鈥�
Asked about the documentary title, he smiled, the intensity that marked his play on the ice ablaze on his face.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a high goal to change the world but we take it one step at a time,鈥� Sopel said.
For more information on Brent Sopel, visit