From: Larry Pleau, General Manager St. Louis Blues
Having grown up with Brian Hubbard and playing Youth and High School Hockey with him we have been friends for over 40 years. Beyond the great person I think he has become, there are particular experiences we had growing up which will explain my deep respect and loyalty for Brian. Despite being nearly legally blind with retinitis pigmentosa, he played hockey with an incredible talent and a Positive attitude that is truly rare. During high school games he would skate with graceful speed and reckless abandon, but would sometimes hit the boards with such force we would collectively hold our breath until he was upright. Without exception he would always get up, showing courage we were truly in awe of. His route home after games was a test of perserverance, We would leave him at his street, not realizing he would have to count the street lights to find his house. This was effective until one night one of the lights was burned out and Brian was lost for hours.
I feel these two stories illustrate Brian's positive attitude and tremendous courage that helped him become the very successful person he is today. This empowering attitude is one of the major reasons why I backed him as a member of the US Disabled Ski Team. It is no surprise to me that he became a three gold medal winner and the nation’s first pacesetter in the disability category at Vail, Colorado. He has taken these and other highly effective insights and skills into his profession as a psychotherapist, administrator, founder of the country's first program to provide Professioul, community-based counseling to the disabled and chronically ill. He is also a unique author and has written a truly inspirational, highly motivating book titled From Emptiness to Empowerment that appeals to all walks of life. His newly developed "Empowerment Therapy" is undoubtedly going to reach many people, including athletes, and knowing Brim the way I do, I highly recommend that anyone read this book if he or she is truly interested in reaching their highest level of success.
Larry Pleau, General Manager St. Louis Blues