Aside from being among the best in their chosen sport, hockey players such as Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, Mike Fisher, Cam Ward, David Booth, Wayne Gretzky and Markus Naslund have another thing in common. Religion.
When we think of hockey, a tough, hard-hitting sport, religion and faith aren’t the first two things that come to mind. For all the stigma attached to the macho hockey player, religion in hockey remains a taboo subject, but since the recent publicity gained by players in other sports such as the NFL’s Tim Tebow and the NBA’s Jeremy Lin, the ideal of open religion in sport is slowly becoming more common and accepted.
The discovery of religion happened in different ways for different players. For Dan Ellis, an NHL goaltender with more than 150 games of experience, Christianity provided a welcome distraction from the hustle and bustle of his home life, with his parents finally divorced when he was 11. In an interview with Will Dawson of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Ellis explains some issues he faced as a teenager;
“When I was in high school, I hung out with the wrong people and did drugs every other weekend. I was getting high and drinking at a very young age. When all your friends are doing it, you wonder why not try. But soon after, things continued to deteriorate. As my life was kind of spiraling, hockey wasn’t going well and my grades weren’t doing well. Clearly, drugs and alcohol were having an effect on me in many areas of my life.
For Ellis, his escape from the downward spiral was thanks to a Christian hockey camp his father enrolled him in. The more Ellis trained and studied the Bible, the more he found purpose that ultimately led to his breakthrough in hockey and success in life.
In this 5 minute clip, Dan Ellis explains his spiritual journey;
If ever there was an iconic figure of religious hockey players, it would be Mike Fisher. The Ontario-born Nashville Predators player has been very open about being a Christian hockey player since joining the NHL and continues to be a spokesperson for the Christian community alongside from his wife, country singer Carrie Underwood.
Both of Fisher’s parents were devout Christians, raising him with the same beliefs, while his uncle David Fisher was a former chaplain for the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. Fisher took these beliefs to heart throughout his life, ultimately leading him to be named the winner of the 2012 NHL Foundation Player Award, given to the player who exemplifies the core values of commitment, perseverance and teamwork while enriching the lives of people in his community. .
The star forward was also the subject of a book called “Defender of the Faith: The Mike Fisher Story”, written by Kim Washburn. The book explains the origins of Fisher’s faith and how the player always puts religion first, demonstrating his passion for helping others on and off the ice.
In this overtime video from when Fisher played for the Ottawa Senators, the forward explains his story and how he thinks Christianity has developed in today’s game:
Another hockey player who credits religion for his success is Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan. In the book ” To the goal “ by Cathy Ellis, Doan recounts his childhood in the small town of Halkirk, Alberta, with a population of about 120, and how, when he finished his Bible studies, he wasn’t sure what to do with his life, share wanting to help people. . After his hockey career took off, Doan explains his journey to the NHL and how he became a mentor to young players, emphasizing the importance of his family in his life.
Doan talks about his family;
“Even though I was lucky in hockey, God gave me the most amazing wife I could ask for. And because I have an extraordinary wife, I have an extraordinary mother for my children, and it is a pleasure to be with them. It’s so great to be with them. They are truly, simply a gift from God. »
A common theme among religious hockey players is family. Players such as Mike Fisher, Shane Doan and Wayne Gretzky are known for being family men, growing up around religion and passing those beliefs on to new generations. Players like Dan Ellis grew up in difficult family situations and used religion as a way out, helping them build a new life.
In a Interview with Puck Report With retired NHL player Markus Naslund, the former Vancouver Canuck talks about family and religion in the NHL:
They work there. I was raised very religious. My grandfather was a pastor. My mother and father are still very active in the Pentecostal Church here. But I haven’t been active for several years. I know there is a Christian organization called Hockey Ministries International where they have chaplains for teams that accept it. They have to get permission from the general manager and coaches to do something. I know there are a few teams that do that. But I haven’t been on any team that has it.
The group Naslund mentioned is Hockey Ministries International (HMI), a charity dedicated to both
spread the word of religion and provide a pathway to sport for young players abroad through training camps. 
Each summer, HMI helps approximately 2,000 young players develop their game in North America and abroad, with the help of professional instructors such as David Booth of the Vancouver Canucks.
In addition to hosting hockey camps, HMI also offers a chapel service, active at the NHL and AHL levels through junior play. The chapels are accessible to all players, regardless of religious affiliation, and are intended to discuss issues relevant to professional athletes. HMI is a registered charity and publishes a variety of books on the theme of religion and hockey.
It’s not just Christian players who have made headlines for their beliefs. Jeff Halpern was the subject of a Washington Post article when he did not appear in a match in 2005 because it coincided with the Jewish Day of Atonement known as Yom Kippur. Toronto Maple Leafs player Nazem Kadri also gained media attention when he was selected in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, becoming the first Muslim player to skate for the Maple Leafs and apparently only the second Muslim player to be drafted into the NHL after Ramzi Abid.
With all the recent exposure that religion has gained as well as strong pro-religious sentiments from gamers, it seems that this topic will only become more relevant in the years to come. While religion in itself cannot make someone a better athlete, having a faith, belief, and drive to succeed can certainly help players achieve their goals.
Part 2: THW interviews current Windsor Spitfire Captain and devout Christian, Saverio Posa
Originally published in 2012, this article on religion in sport is rather timeless. We think it’s still relevant and many of our new fans might enjoy it.
