John Tavares, the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ veteran center, has shown remarkable dedication to both his physical and mental well-being, a focus that has positively impacted his game. Following practice at the Leafs’ Toronto facility, while most players quickly head to the locker room or media interactions, Tavares chooses to remain on the ice, perfecting his skills through extra practice sessions. This disciplined approach contributes to his sustained high level of play, even after 17 NHL seasons.
At 35 years old, Tavares continues to push himself hard as he acknowledges his career is progressing beyond its early stages but still feels he has significant hockey left in him. His persistent passion for the sport and dedication to refining his craft have fueled a mid-career resurgence, bolstered by his attention to mental health and overall balance.
Maintaining Peak Performance Beyond the Ice
Tavares’ routines extend beyond regular hockey drills; he invests considerable effort into physical care and mental readiness. He employs methods such as stretching, light therapy, and sauna sessions, setting a standard recognized by teammates and peers alike. Newcomer Nicolas Roy praised Tavares’ rigor, noting,
“Everything he does is crazy, but seeing it yourself, and actually being his teammate, you appreciate what he does away from [outside] eyes. He’s taking care of his body, working out and stretching after practice… He’s the hardest working guy, taking care of all his details.”
Roy underscored Tavares as an exemplar of professionalism within the team.
Despite juggling the demands of fatherhood with wife Aryne and their three children, Tavares adapts his regimen with flexibility. He prioritizes essentials like sleep, hydration, and nutrition and incorporates any additional recovery techniques when time allows.
Tavares shared his approach to self-care:
“I try to take a lot of pride in how I take care of myself… [Sleep] is always priority No. 1 — get to bed at a good time so you can get a good night’s rest. That’s your mental clarity and energy for recovery. After that, it’s my hydration and my nutrition. If I can add anything to that, it’s some of the body movement stuff to stay primed and ready for the gym or to get on the ice. That’s really important to me, too.”
A Career Renaissance Fueled by Purpose and Passion
Since joining Toronto in 2018, Tavares experienced a fresh career chapter that combined personal growth with professional achievements. He accepted the Maple Leafs’ captaincy for five seasons before passing the leadership role to Auston Matthews in 2024, a transition that opened new opportunities for him to focus solely on his gameplay. The 2024-25 season saw Tavares scoring 38 goals, maintaining a consistent contribution with at least 30 goals in three of four recent seasons.
Tavares also hit a significant career milestone by scoring his 500th NHL goal on October 29, placing him among only 49 players to reach that feat. Despite interest from other teams offering larger contracts, Tavares chose loyalty to Toronto by signing a discounted four-year extension, remaining with the Leafs through 2028-29.
This commitment reflects not only his desire for continuity and team success but also a broader purpose that extends off the ice.
John Tavares Foundation: Advocating for Mental Health Awareness
Outside the rink, John Tavares and his wife Aryne founded the John Tavares Foundation in 2020, aiming to raise awareness and support for mental health initiatives. The foundation’s creation was a carefully planned effort that stretched over years, starting when Tavares was still playing for the New York Islanders and continuing as their family life evolved in Toronto.
Aryne, a former physiotherapist, took on the role of full-time volunteer CEO, steering the foundation through unforeseen obstacles such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As she explained,
“We were all ready to launch, like ‘OK, let’s put this in motion,’ And then we were held off again because suddenly everyone was asking, ‘What is COVID?’”
This disruption forced the foundation to adapt in its early stages, but Aryne and their team found ways to continue supporting relevant causes.
Partnership with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
One of the foundation’s impactful partnerships has been with The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s leading mental health teaching hospital and research center. The foundation’s focus on youth drew them to contribute to CAMH’s programs aimed at helping young people navigate mental health challenges.
During a visit to CAMH, the Tavares family was moved by a personal story shared by a youth named Alex, who, along with his mother, described their struggles and recovery journey. Aryne recalled,
“We had a fellow named Alex who stood up with his mom and told us their story and their experience with CAMH. It was so touching. Alex had said he came to CAMH because he wasn’t in control of his mind… CAMH provided her with all those [tools].”
John reflected on the encounter, stating,
“It was just amazing to see someone who was going through some pretty significant mental health challenges being able to speak about his experience at CAMH and basically how in some ways it saved his life… you could see the joy they have now.”
Changing Attitudes Toward Mental Health in Hockey
Mental health awareness among NHL players has gained momentum in recent years, breaking longstanding stigmas about showing vulnerability in professional sports. Players like Carey Price, Samuel Girard, Sam Poulin, and Linus Ullmark have publicly addressed their own mental health battles and sought assistance through NHL and NHLPA programs.
During an interview, Ullmark shared how he recognized the need for help after a difficult game:
“As soon as that game was over, I called [player assistant program] Dr. [Joel] Gold and I said, ‘Hey, I’m f—ed up. I need help.’ And together with the program, together with the organization, we set up a plan and I went through the motions and I took the absence of leave.”
He also noted the harmful reactions athletes face when speaking out:
“People wonder why hockey players — professional athletes — are not talking, why we’re not showing any sort of emotions? … This is just the proof I have now that I understand why people are shutting themselves in and tend to do other things than to ask for help.”
Tavares echoed this progress, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging mental health struggles:
“There is much better awareness in knowing the importance of being able to ask for help, that it is OK… there’s a lot of things that you deal with internally that can be challenging at times, and it’s OK to recognize that, to ask for help and to seek out resources and things that can help support you.”
Breaking the Stigma Through Advocacy and Family Support
Aryne added perspective on how mental health attitudes have evolved inside hockey:
“Before, it was all ‘push it aside, push through, bury it,’ and that’s just very unhealthy. I just don’t think [the topic] came up enough. I don’t think players were just voluntarily saying, ‘I need to take a mental break here,’ or ‘I need help.’ It’s very hard for anybody to be able to say that. And I think that’s part of just breaking the stigma, and that’s one of the biggest things that CAMH has tried to do.”
Fatherhood has deepened Tavares’ awareness of mental health balance and emotional management. Aryne shared,
“John controls his emotions very well… Coming home now with kids is even better for him because you can’t just go over [a loss] in your head. The kids just bring a little bit of light and laughter and smiling… He does a great job at managing his mental load and mental performance, and when he does seem overwhelmed, he manages that in his own private ways, which are very good.”
Current Challenges and Looking Ahead
This season presents tough challenges for Tavares and the Maple Leafs. Toronto entered the Olympic break struggling, positioned seventh in the Atlantic Division and six points shy of the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot. Individually, Tavares is seeking to regain momentum after producing two goals and four points over his last eight games before the break.
The pause has offered him a chance to physically and mentally reset, reaffirming the broader perspective he now holds about hockey’s place in life. He emphasized,
“Hockey is a part of life but not the root of his purpose. That’s through introducing what he does to loved ones — and investing in people and places that are helping reshape and redefine the world around them.”
Tavares also expressed gratitude for his current position and focus:
“It’s been a real blessing to be where I’m at and have a young family and share the game with my kids. You’re always trying to get a little better, stay sharp, so you can do it [for them] as long as you can. And you look at what we’re doing [at the foundation], to help people find the tools and resources to maximize who they are and their potential and to have a life they feel that they can thrive in and become who they want to become. We’re really proud to bring awareness to what [places like CAMH] do. It’s our privilege.”
