FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philadelphia, PA – The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association has chosen Chris Therien, former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman, as the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement and Service Award for 2023. The award recognizes Chris’s exceptional contributions to the community, both on and off the ice.
Chris will be honored at a ceremony to be held on April 16th, 2023 at the Cannstatter Volksfest Verein located at 9130 Academy Road in Philadelphia, PA. The event will commence with Mass at 8:30AM, followed by the presentation of the award and a reception.
Chris Therien played with the Philadelphia Flyers for 11 seasons, from 1994 to 2006, and is widely regarded as one of the best defensemen in team history. During his time with the Flyers, he played in over 700 games and was an integral part of the team’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997. In addition, Chris was a member of the Canadian Olympic team in 1998 and played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2000.
But it is not just Chris’s achievements on the ice that have earned him this honor. Since retiring from professional hockey, he has been actively involved in the addiction and mental health community, serving as a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni Association’s “Get Well Gamers” program and as a board member of the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation. He has also been an advocate for those struggling with addiction, sharing his own experiences with sobriety to inspire others to seek help. He serves as the Chief Wellness Officer for both addiction and mental health facilities Pennsylvania Recovery Center & Pennsylvania Behavioral Health Center.
“I am thrilled to be honored by the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association,” said Therien. “I’ve dedicated the rest of my life to helping those struggling with addiction and mental health issues. I’ve learned to keep my own recovery I have to give it away.”
The Northeast Catholic Alumni Association was established to promote the interests of Northeast Catholic High School, which closed in 2010, and to provide opportunities for alumni to reconnect and give back to the community. The Outstanding Achievement and Service Award is presented annually to a community member in the Philadelphia area who has demonstrated exceptional achievements and service to the community.
For more information about the award ceremony or the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association, please contact Jim Buckley at (215) 555-1212 or visit www.northeastcatholicalumni.org.
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to drugs and alcohol or mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar or others don’t hesitate to reach out to Chris at Bundy Recovery’s hotline 800-638-5370 or email: [email protected].
