In His Life After Hockey Michael Schwass Continues to Inspire

The name Michael Schwass is familiar to many hockey fans especially in the Chicago area. A 16-year-old senior at Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois, Schwass was one of the highest scorers in the state. He regularly received letters of inquiry from colleges. Opponents were well aware of his skill; coaches from rival schools instructed their players to "stay on Schwass." His hockey career came to a very abrupt end when, due to a tragic incident during a game, he was paralyzed from the neck down.

I heard the reports of Schwass's accident on the news in Chicago. It was in all the newspaper, radio and television reports at the time. When I met Mike Schwass, almost 30 years later, I was awed. By that time he had become a successful professional speaker as well as a life coach and recently an author.

After many years of intense physical therapy, Schwass had become the first chronic quadriplegic to walk on his own. That accomplishment was impressive enough to make national news. What was even more impressive to me was the fact that having endured such a struggle, he was so positive in his approach to life, work, and people. "What a blessing," I thought. "He is one of those people who has the gift of a positive disposition. He can cope with all these challenges without becoming bitter." I just knew that if I ever had to face such a daunting life-changing event, I would become a bitter old curmudgeon in a matter of weeks.

When I read Schwass's book, Don't Blame the Game, my awe of Mike increased. I realized that Schwass wasn't blessed with an exceptionally positive disposition by nature. He is a regular human being who struggled to overcome frustration and discouragement. He is a person who continues to work at physical therapy for hours every day to maintain the strength and mobility he has managed to gain over the years since his accident. He worked hard to overcome the despair at being robbed of his athletic gift. And he continues to motivate himself day after day to achieve a level of success that few attain.

Although he is again confined to a wheel chair and relies on help from personal assistants, he manages a busy career including travel to speaking engagements.

During his long years of treatments, surgeries, therapies, setbacks, and accomplishments, Schwass has been supported by the hockey community, especially Chicago Blackhawks legends Stan Makita and Keith Magnuson. Schwass and Magnuson remained close personal friends until Magnuson's untimely death in 2003.

"When Keith played for the Blackhawks," says Schwass, "he was a defenseman and would come to the aid of the front line players who were under attack. What he did on the rink for the Chicago Blackhawks, he did for me in my wheelchair. He came to my aid, and he stayed with me for the duration."

In turn Cindy Magnuson says, "Mike was a daily inspiration to Keith."

Schwass continues to enjoy and support youth hockey. In March 2005 the Amateur Hockey Association Illinois named the MVP award of the Blackhawk Cup Championship Game the "Mike Schwass Award." The first recipient of the Mike Schwass Award is Mike McBride of New Trier High School; the second was Mark Giangreco Jr., the son of the well-known ABC-TV Sports anchor. Schwass feels honored to be remembered to young players this way.

In addition to inspiring high school athletes, Schwass serves as a counselor with the First Step Foundation working to improve the lives of quadriplegics and paraplegics. As a speaker and life coach, he also teaches able-bodied men and women in all walks of life how to use the techniques he has developed to enrich their lives and careers.

"It's extremely hard to be self-motivated for a lifetime," Schwass admits. "The only way to sustain motivation is to find your purpose in life. It took me several years to find my purpose after the hockey accident."

Asked for a defining moment when he knew he would be OK after the accident, Schwass says, "The key was being able to let go of the anger. After four years, I was able to let go of blame. That allowed me to move on with my life."

What life might have held for Schwass had he not been injured will always be a mystery. What is sure is that he is now successful and inspiring. "I don't want to second-guess what happened back then, nor the power of the universe to bring me what I needed. I wasn't given the choice. I accept that. I don't blame the accident. I don't blame the players. And I don't blame the game."

Mike's book is available at