''I Should Have Been Dead'' Former Flyers Defenseman Opens Up About Addiction While In The NHL

"I should have been dead", he said in an interview with 6abc sportscaster Jeff Skversky. "My blood alcohol was a 0.64, you're dead at 0.40" he said to Skversky.

Therien's final season with the Flyers in 2006 is when alcohol started consuming his life. It got to a point where he would even drink during breakfast and Therien said "I would absolutely say yes" to Skversky about have alcohol in his system during the season while playing on ice.

Therien explained alcohol was just to cope with the stress of being in professional hockey and the sudden death of his 32 year old sister Sarah Beth from cardiac arrest.

He wanted a change for himself and his family, "I didn't want them to have to be exposed to a parent that had alcohol or addiction issues in their house" he took matters seriously and went to rehab.

Fifteen years of dedication and is now sober for ten years, he is in the continuous process of encouraging and helping others. "As bad as you think it is, I promise you there's always a better way. I promise you that, and there's nobody that can look me in the eyes and say you can't do it. you can." Therien said.

Therien no longer fears his story and will continue to provide help to patients and plans to become a certified counsellor.