Brian McGrattan opens up about struggles with sobriety

Last week, Brian McGrattan shared a photo of his baby boy holding a block with the number seven between his feet.

The number wasn't to signify how many months old his son, Gabriel, had just turned.

It was there to celebrate his father's seven years clean of drugs and alcohol.

"I got to the point where I wanted to quit all the drinking and the drugs," McGrattan said in an interview with Aaron Vickers of CalgaryFlames.com, where he opened up about his struggles with sobriety.

"I just didn't know how to do it. I came to that point and was willing to do whatever it took to get clean and sober. Whatever path it was going to take, I was willing to do it. Because I had the will and the determination to do it … I was willing to do whatever it took to get my life this way.

"In the early stages I buckled down. It wasn’t easy at first. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life."

McGrattan, now a farmhand with the Anaheim Ducks, detailed what he called his moment of clarity after a three- or four-day run of heavy usage.

He said he had enough, and called his parents, the league, and team to ask for help.

"Here I am, seven years later."

Click here to read Vickers' entire piece.