On Bell Let’s Talk Day, hear how Patrice Bergeron helped Gemel Smith in a time of need

Around 14 months ago, the Bruins made what seemed like a minor roster move in claiming forward Gemel Smith off of waivers from the Dallas Stars.

Smith projected to be a middle-six option for the Bruins if he stuck in the big leagues, or forward depth for the Providence Bruins.

While he played just a handful of games for the Bruins, his short stint here led to a life-changing interaction with Patrice Bergeron.

First reported in The Athletic a few months back, Smith was going through a rough time after being waived, claimed, and waived again. He found himself in his third new city in a matter of weeks, and his confidence was shaken.

Bergeron took notice, and reached out to Smith to ask him if everything was OK. That quick message ended up being huge for Smith.

In advance of Bell Let’s Talk Day, which is today, TSN released a great video short that tells Smith’s story, and the role Bergeron played in it.

We can’t embed it, so click here to watch it on TSN’s site.

In the video, Bergeron recounts how he felt low in the months after the serious concussion he suffered at the hands of Randy Jones. Knowing how that felt, Bergeron decided to reach out to Smith, and things snowballed from there.

It’s great to see that Smith is in a better place mentally. He played well for Providence last season, recording 40 points in 47 games. This year, as a member of the Syracuse Crunch, he has 32 points in 37 games, including 16 goals, one fewer than he scored all of last season.

He also has played 3 games with Tampa Bay, recording a goal.

Smith and Bergeron’s brief interaction shows the importance of reaching out to someone in their time of need.

If you ever find yourself in that spot, don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone here. We’re all happy to be a listening ear to someone who needs it.