Dear HMI Pacific Crew,

I trust that you have all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season! and… I am careful to realize that for some, Christmas is painful as well as it is joyful. For all of us, let us look to Jesus who is our only and our ultimate Hope.

I thought I would include a picture of Lorraine and me taking a walk in the Gellatly area of West Kelowna just before Christmas. The lights made everything feel quite magical; we had a wonderful Christmas stroll that evening…

My update this time will be brief, so let’s go. In early November, I hopped on the Warriors bus for a road trip to Powell River and Cowichan Valley. It was a good trip and I was able to have a chapel with the team in the hotel in Powell River. Trips like this are wonderful on that they are all about great relationships and opportunities to share with players and coaches alike. We had to cancel our game in Port Alberni on the trip because of an ammonia leak at their arena, which of course is extremely dangerous. The arena was closed for a number of weeks in order to repair the problem. I am thankful that the lead was discovered and we didn’t go there. We will visit Port Alberni to make up that lost game on our second island road trip in late January.

When we finished the road trip, Lorraine and I went to Oliver to take part in a mission Sunday at Valley church. Valley is a Christian Congregational Church that has embraced us beautifully. We are so very thankful Pastor Ken Clarke and the good people at Valley. Also in November we traveled up north to Quesnel to speak at Bethel Church. Pastor Monte Harrop hosted us well; we enjoyed a wonderful day with the people there.

One of our highlights every December is the annual West Kelowna Warriors Christmas Hamper Night. I’m honoured to coordinate this tradition through the chaplaincy program. When all was said and done, the players, coaches and myself were able to assemble 55 wonderful Christmas hampers for needy families in West Kelowna. I must thank the fabulous Warriors fans for donating the way they do, so that we can help out our community every Christmas.

Over the past while, I have been pleased to connect with various chaplains and hockey people along my travels. One of these is the chaplain of the Vernon Vipers, David Hockley. When I look outside at our weather, I thought that this winter picture of David and his wife Edith was perfect…! Another one of our great chaplains is the Creston Thundercats’ Harry Haberstock. Harry is such a wonderful influence in the Creston area and a wonderful chaplain to their local hockey club. I was able to connect also with the Prince George Spruce Kings broadcaster Kyle Anderson and veteran BCHL coach Troy Mick. (It was Troy who was instrumental in my initially getting into Hockey Ministries chaplaincy.)

I ask you to pray as I am just getting to know our brand new Warriors head coach, Simon Ferguson. A new coach develops his own culture in a team, and I pray that the chapel program will be able to continue as we have been doing for 14 years. Also, I have many trips all over BC in the next short while, and I would ask for your prayers as I drive the winter roads meeting chaplains and coaches.

Thank you for reading about some of the happenings in the Hockey Ministries world in BC. May the Lord bless you as we serve him together. Oh, and may you all have a fabulous faith-filled 2020!

All for Jesus,

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region

It’s getting chilly outside; it’s jacket time and yes, there is a thin plate of ice on the puddles today. And that means that hockey season is well under way and Hockey Ministries chapels are in full swing. Let me get you caught up…

At the opening of the season in early September, it was a real privilege to be at the Kelowna Chiefs home opener. It was a tribute night for the late owner Grant Sheridan. The arena was absolutely packed, with far more people that the arena could hold. (The fire marshall must have been away that day….!) After a fabulous tribute in front of Grant’s wife and son, I was asked to say a few words from centre ice and lead in a prayer. We will never know how much those experiences mean to people or what the Lord is doing at those times. What an honour it was to represent the Lord like that!

In September I received a call from the coach of the Kelowna Bantam Rockets Tier 1 team, asking if I would be interested in leading a chapel for his team. Of course I was interested! So in early October I got to lead a group of 13-14 year old hockey players in their very first chapel. I am thankful to say that I’ll have many more chapel times with these young teens.

It was early October when the news broke about an 18th hockey club being added to the BC Hockey League for next season. The Cranbrook Bucks Jr A club will play in their inaugural BCHL season in the fall of 2020, and I am pleased to let you know that we will have a chapel program in Cranbrook right from day 1! Also, I was in Kimberley just over a month ago, and not only will we have a chaplain in Cranbrook but we’ll also have a new chaplain in Kimberley with the Dynamiters Jr. B club! I am very thankful to the Lord for these wonderful opportunities to share the love of God in Christ.

One of the things that I love to do is to go on road trips with the clubs that I serve. That was the case not long ago when I hopped on the West Kelowna Warriors team bus and headed south to Wenatchee, Wa., where the Warriors took on the Wild. It was great to be with the team! Both the Warriors and the Kelowna Chiefs have invited me on a few more road trips during the season, so I’ll be spending a number of days travelling with those clubs. The wonderful thing is that I will get to have a chapel on the road during those trips.

Just recently I returned from Castlegar where I spoke to a gathering of close to 100 men at a men’s breakfast. After sharing some hockey stories and also sharing about the ministry, a man approached me with an interest in chaplaincy. It looks like there is a good opportunity for a new chaplain to emerge in Beaver Valley with the Jr B Nitehawks. Please be praying about this in the days ahead.

I would like to introduce you to a few of the chaplains with some of the teams that you might not know about. David John serves at the chaplain in Fernie with the Ghostriders. Michael Fox does the same in Armstrong with the North Okanagan Knights as does Kyle Reddeman in Salmon Arm with the Silverbacks.

Eric Guthrie is the chaplain in Victoria with the Grizzles and Graham McMahon serves in Chilliwack with the Chiefs.

Back home, I have been so blessed with the chapel program that I am doing with the Kelowna Chiefs. For 9 years, the chapel program has had modest attendance, with perhaps 6 – 8 players attending. This season, the attendance over 3 chapels so far has been between 17-20! I thought I would take a pic and show you the Chiefs chapel in progress. Amen!

Finally, I was relieved to hear that after much uncertainty the West Kelowna Warriors and the BCHL have a plan for the team to be bought by a new owner. This means that the team will stay in West Kelowna, which I am extremely happy for. I am in my 14th year as the chaplain of the team and the prospect of the club leaving was frankly, devastating. But as it stands now, the team will stay and I will be able to continue to serve as the Warriors chaplain. It’s also a thrill to be asked to do colour commentary on the Warriors broadcasts as well. (Now that is a lot of fun!)

Thanks for your prayerful and your financial support. It makes a huge difference in reaching into the world of hockey. God bless you all today.

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region

• New chapel program in Kimberley
• New chapel program in Cranbrook
• New chaplain in Revelstoke
• Possible new program in Beaver Valley
• New ownership in West Kelowna
• My road trips (Chiefs and Warriors)
• Kelowna Bantam Rockets chapel program
• Thankfulness for the Chiefs chapel growth

Hello out there!

Well. it’s very close to hockey time in Canada!

I trust that you have had a wonderful summer, mixing in some time to relax along the way. For me, it’s been a good summer of family, friends and…. hockey camps!  Let me tell you all the details….

In July I was involved again with our annual Westside Daze parade, representing the West Kelowna Warriors. I feel that it is very important to be visible in my community, letting people know that I am involved in the club. It’s a good way to gain trust in a secular world where trust is at a premium; a world that simply needs the message of Jesus. As I walked the parade route, I met and chatted with hundreds of folks These kinds of things are part of the ministry of chaplaincy.

On the hockey camp front, it was good to go to Williams Lake in July for our 8th Hockey Ministries camp. Corwin Smid does such a great job of directing this camp, and his commitment level to making it happen is second to none. The registration in Williams Lake was in the mid 40s, which made for an excellent week on and off the ice. In August I was excited to attend my second camp of the summer which was at Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. We were at Shawnigan Lake School, which is a premier facility. We are so blessed to be able to use a fabulous venue like this. I am thankful for the incredibly low rate that they charge us as a Christian based hockey camp. Their regular rate is much much higher. It was good to have former Vancouver Canuck and Stanley Cup Champion Ryan Walter at Shawnigan Lake as our lead instructor. Ryan came to camp with most of the his family, who served as counsellors and on-ice instructors. The Walter family’s help was invaluable, for which I am very thankful. At these two camps, a good number of young players received Jesus into their lives for the very first time. How awesome is that?

This summer I had a chance to spend a bit of time with Riley Fiddler Schultz, who plays hockey for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League. I was privileged to baptize Riley and his family last year, and it was great to meet with him again this summer. Riley is doing very well in Calgary, and is a leader on and off the ice with his team.

Over the last short while, I became aware of a young man from the east Kootenays named Brayden. He is a 19 year old junior hockey player who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Brayden is now in Vancouver undergoing chemo treatments. This is heartbreaking for anyone at any age, but I guess I was surprised to find a young strong athlete battling this disease. Please be praying for Brayden and his family.

In the last while I have been able to spend a bit of time with a few chaplains. I have included a picture of my time with Rick Gay, who serves with the Summerland Steam Junior club. Summerland is just down the road from me, so it’s not that difficult to connect with Rick. Rick is doing a standout job with the Steam, and they hold him in very high regard not only at the arena but also in town. I was also able to connect with Kevin VanderVeen, the brand new chaplain in Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. Kevin serves the Cowichan Valley Capitals Junior club.

Finally, some very difficult news. I have been asking in my last few newsletters for prayer for the Kelowna Chiefs co-owner, Grant Sheridan who had contracted bacterial meningitis in late March. The hockey world was rocked with the news that Grant passed away on July 28 at 47 years of age. His memorial service was held on August 8th here in Kelowna. I was asked to say a few words and read some scripture at his service, which I was honoured to do. Close to 800 people jammed into First Lutheran Church that day, in a beautiful auditorium that generally seats about 600. Almost all of the people that attended were from the hockey community, and for me it was good to point the people to the only hope that we have; a hope that is found in Jesus. Please be praying for strength for Grant’s wife Cherie and his teenage son Tanner. There are trying and long difficult days ahead for Cherie, Tanner and for her and Grant’s families.

These next months, I will be travelling around the province, encouraging chaplains and hockey people, waving the freedom flag of the gospel of our Saviour Jesus. Please remember all the chaplains and the programs that will be starting up again very soon. I would appreciate your prayers also as I am still looking for a few chaplains for some teams in the province.

Thanks for reading, giving and praying.

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region

Happy July to all of you!

Well, this newsletter is a tad late this time…. It must be the warm sunny Okanagan weather that has slowed me down… or..  (Actually, it was the fact that Lorraine and I took a 3 week vacation starting June 9) Of course, getting back into it after a wonderful time away has left me a bit behind.

Let me fill you in on some of what I’ve been up to recently. During spring playoff season, I was in Revelstoke for a few days with the Kelowna Chiefs hockey club. It was there that I had lunch with coach Taylor Harnett of the Waywayseecappo Wolverines of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. (This club is on a First Nations Reserve located near Russell MB) It was good to chat with him and share a prayer. I also was pleased to spend time with my good friend and Hockey Pathways Rep. Rylan Ferster as well as Revelstoke Grizzlies coach Ryan Parent. It was at this time that Chiefs owner Grant Sheridan was hit hard with meningitis, which I wrote about in my last newsletter. Please continue to pray for Grant, his wife Cherie and their son Tanner as Grant is still struggling with severe difficulty.

In May, I drove to Brooks Alberta to attend my 10th Canadian Junior A championship Tournament. (It was so nice to be able to stay with Lorraine’s parents, who live an hour east in Medicine Hat.) Getting tickets to the tournament proved to be a bit difficult, and it was the Lord who helped me with this. I wrote to the executive director of the BC Hockey League about my desire to attend and before I knew it, he had contacted the BCHL champion Prince George Spruce Kings about having me receive credentials through them. In the span of two days, I had my Spruce Kings credentials! I was able to walk into the tournament! How’s that for awesome? Thank you Lord! During the tournament I met many great people, (it’s always about the people…) one of which was the Alberta Hockey Ministries representative Tim Wiebe. It’s great to see HMI colleagues along the way, as often I don’t get to see HMI staff sometimes for an entire year or so.

I also want to include a picture of Mitch Martan, who was in my chapels in West Kelowna with the Warriors. Mitch moved on from the Warriors and landed in Wellington Ontario playing for the Wellington Dukes. It was good to run into Mitch and renew acquaintances. It’s so great to know that most of the people I have mentioned have been involved in a Christian chapel and in a prayer time throughout their junior hockey career.

In late May, I was invited to a Canadian Blood Services event in Kelowna and ran into a player who was in my chapels when I was the chaplain for the Vernon VIpers Jr A club way back in 2004 –06. Aaron Volpatti went on to play in the NHL for Vancouver and Washington. It was so good to reconnect, and we will continue to stay in touch.

One final thing: I would ask you to pray for me this summer as I head to 2 hockey camps; one in Williams Lake and the other in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. These camps are such a great experience for young hockey players, both on and off the ice. On average, 15 campers make a decision for Christ in each camp. What a tremendous opportunity these camps present to share the gospel and inspire young athletes to be champions, both in their souls and also on the ice.

Thank you for your prayers, your kindness and your finances. Please take a moment and not only pray but let me know that you are enjoying the read!

Towards the Goal,

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region

Hi there to the HMI BC crew!

I pray that you are doing well, and that you are enjoying getting outside a bit more as warmer days settle upon us. That means that —  hockey season is slowly winding down! (However, ministry never winds down, because this ministry (as any ministry) is about people, not primarily about ice, skates and pucks.)c

Let me give you an inside peek into what is happening with Hockey Ministries in BC. Over the last while, I have connected with a number of chaplains, many of them brand new. Let me ‘introduce’ you to a few of them.

One of those is James McFaddin in Castlegar. He is the new chaplain of the Castlegar Rebels Jr B club. Another new chaplain in Tyler Harper in the small town of Chase. Tyler is the chaplain for the Chase Heat Jr B club. Another chaplain that I have connected with is Chris de Monye’. Chris is the chaplain for the Surrey Eagles Jr A club.c

When I was at a church conference in Vancouver recently, I was so pleased to spend a bit of time with Danny Stebeck, who is the chaplain for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. At that same conference I met up with Lewis Chifan, who is chaplain with the UBC Thunderbirds club. Also, I was recently able to connect with the chaplain of the Powell River Kings, Terry Dyer. All these chaplains are fabulous servants of Jesus, and I’d ask you to keep them on your prayer list.c

As the Hockey season came to a close for the West Kelowna Warriors, I was able to present the Warriors Chaplaincy Award to Lucas Bahn, a wonderful young man from Tennessee. Moments like these are precious, as these awards are presented on the ice after the final home game. I believe that the Lord is pleased as people hear about the team chapels in settings like this. Right after the season was over, I was able to have a good coffee with Chase Dubois, another one of the Warriors players. Of course, coffee is always followed by a prayer. Chase is from Williams Lake, and has been a regular chapel attender.

I also wanted to show you a picture of our chaplain in Revelstoke, Josiah Olson. Josiah has done a fantastic job holding team chapels with the Revelstoke Grizzlies Jr B club. His team won not only their league title, but also the Cyclone Taylor Cup which is the championship for British Columbia. Josiah is in this picture (blond hair holding his boy) with some of the players and coaches along with the championship trophies and banners.

I close my letter with a very sad heart for two reasons. On March 22, when I was in Revelstoke at a Kelowna Chiefs playoff game, (I serve as the chaplain for the Chiefs) Grant Sheridan, the part owner and GM of the Chiefs was there. He wasn’t feeling well, and I assumed he would feel better after a good night’s sleep. Well, i was wrong. He had contracted bacterial meningitis, and was rushed to the hospital. Grant is still in the Kelowna hospital. The doctors still do not know what the level of his recovery will be. I know that you will pray for Grant and his family.

On Tuesday, April 23rd in Saanichton BC, at 92 years of age my Dad passed away into the presence of Jesus. Lorraine and I rushed to the Island on the evening of the 22nd and were able to be with him at his bedside as he crossed into eternity with the Lord. The feelings that I have are such a paradox: sadness at missing my dad, yet triumph at knowing that he is in Glory right now. Thank you for your prayers at this time.

God bless you, you are great teammates.

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region

Dearest HMI Pacific team,

I hope that you are doing well as the winter slowly loses steam as we roll towards brighter days in the spring. I hope that you enjoy this latest ministry news info from my laptop to yours….

Most of the ministry in the last while has been done from my home base in Kelowna. While I have been on the road somewhat this winter, it has not been quite as often as other years.

One of the highlights of the past few months was when Rogers Hometown Hockey came to West Kelowna, and I was able to spend a few moments with CBC (Hockey Night in Canada) personality Ron MacLean and Vancouver Canuck alumni, goaltender Kirk McLean. I am convinced that part of this ministry is to continually show up in the lives of this hockey culture wherever it is. That is why I make it my business to be in the center of the action as much as I am able to. Also, it was on that same weekend that I sang the National Anthem at a Rockets game and was able to meet and chat with NHL veteran and former Kelowna Rocket Josh Gorges. What a fabulous weekend to show up and be counted!

It was an honour to be able to go on 2 road trips with the Warriors this year, taking in Victoria, Cowichan Valley (Duncan), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Powell River and Chilliwack. On the trip I snapped a picture of the Warriors bus just in front of the Island Savings Centre in Duncan, about an hour before we played the Cowichan Valley Capitals. I was pleased to be able to hold 3 chapels in our hotels on road trips this year, which is more than I’ve done in any other year. One of my chapels I have named ‘the toothpaste chapel’ where I talk from the book of James about the power of the tongue and encouraging speech. Like toothpaste coming out of the tube, what is said cannot be put back in our mouths… The guys really understand that concept, and of course there is a wonderful biblical lesson to be learned there.

A standard practice that I have is to regularly take players, coaches and fans out for coffee, sharing in their lives and ending with a prayer. I call it J&J, which stands for Java and Jesus. I have had hundreds of ‘J&J’s’ over the years, and we always end with prayer, which is the second ‘J’. My common saying is that you never get away without the second ‘J’… I usually walk out to the parking lot beside on of our vehicles and we stop and pray.  You can see in the picture that I am ready for the second ‘j”, standing beside the Warriors truck. I took a picture of our Warriors team Captain and I as we visited during one of the road trips. These chats are perfect opportunities to end a chat with the second ‘J’….

In late January we had our first ever Kelowna Chiefs Faith Night and in mid February was our 10th Annual West Kelowna Warriors Faith Night. These nights are a celebration of the chapel program as well as the Christian faith community. The Chiefs event was much smaller because it was the first year, while the Warriors is well established now and was a one of the largest home crowds of the year. I like to call it a ‘faith party’, which is feel is wonderful in that it happens at a secular event such as a Junior hockey game. I would ask you to please pray that I would be able to have good conversations and beneficial results from these Faith Nights.

I thought that you might be encouraged to know that there have been a few good additions to the Hockey Ministries team here in BC in the last short while.  At UBC in Vancouver, Lewis Chifan has taken over as the Thunderbirds chaplain. As well, there are now new chapel programs in Chase, Castlegar and in Fernie and Dave Knudsen is the new chaplain in Port Alberni. Your prayers are so very much appreciated!

Finally, thank you for your support of Hockey Ministries in BC, both in your prayer and your finances. I am deeply grateful to serve the Lord in this area, and I will remind you again, that you are all  huge part of this ministry.

Still going strong,

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region