The Hockey Ministries International 2010 Camp season kicked off this past Sunday June 6 with the first Christian Hockey Camps International Camp in St. Louis, Missouri. HMI will stage 32 weeks of camps this summer in six different countries, including Canada, the United States, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia.

Former professional hockey player Charlie Blyth is the Camp Director of the St. Louis camp, and on Sunday welcomed over 50 campers to the host site on the campus of Webster University . Blyth, a native of Montreal, Quebec and a former player with the United Hockey League's / International Hockey League's Missouri River Otters, will help lead an excellent group of solid on-ice instructors, as well as a caring and loving local camp staff.

"The camp is underway and we've had a great start." said Blyth. "We have this year perhaps one of the most incredible group of on-ice pro instructors that we've ever had at an HMI camp in St. Louis."

Heading the on-ice group is former National Hockey League defenseman, Rob Ramage.  The former St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens defenseman, is a two-time Stanley Cup winner, and one of the most popular players to ever don a Blues' jersey.

Also instructing at the St.Louis camp is former Minnesota North Stars and University of Minnesota defenseman, Bll Butters. The University of Wisconsin Badgers just signed on Butters as an Assistant Coach for the 2010-2011 season. Long-time Central Hockey League veteran Stacey Bauman, a regular at the HMI St. Louis camp for many years, is also on the on-ice staff, as well as Wisconsin Badgers Blake Geoffrion and John Ramage. 

"We're into the third day of camp here on Tuesday." said Blyth. "The pros are starting to share their testimonies during our evening chapels, and I am really looking forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do here this week."

Geared for boys and girls of all skill levels, age 9-17, Christian Hockey Camps International provides a world-class, on-ice program which is directed and overseen by a caring staff in a fun and high energy atmosphere. Each camp provides an engaging and well organized regimen, designed to challenge kids in body, mind and spirit with a solid Christian message. HMI camps also feature great food and great fun, and each camper receives a free, special CHCI jersey! 

Next up on HMI's 2010 camp schedule will be camps in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Chiacgo, Illinois and Soldotna, Alaska the week of June 20. Registrations remain open for all upcoming HMI camps.  CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE REGISTRATION INFORMATION.  To view photos from last year's CHCI St. Louis camp, CLICK HERE.

Former National Hockey League star Jean Pronovost, launched his 14-year NHL career in the city of Pittsburgh. In his rookie year in 1968, the building was known as the Civic Arena.  It opened in 1961 and in 1999 its name was changed to Mellon Arena. Since 1967 this edifice has been the home of the Penguins. For the last several years Mellon Arena has been the oldest building in the NHL. 

JEAN PRONOVOST (#19) AND DAVE BURROWS (#4) STAND WITH 48 OTHER FORMER PENGUINS PLAYERS WHO WERE BROUGHT BACK FOR THE LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME AT MELLON ARENA

After 49 years, the building hosted its last hockey game on Wednesday, May 12 when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Penguins 5-2 to oust Pittsburgh from the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Penguins will move into the brand new Consol Energy Center for the 2010-11 season.

Fifty former Pittsburgh Penguins' greats were invited to attend the team's final regular-season home game on Thursday, April 8 against the New York Islanders. Several former Penguins players have been involved with HMI for many years. In addition to Pronovost they include Dean Prentice, Dave Burrows, Paul Baxter, Michel Dion and Marc Chorney. Pronovost and Burrows were invited to attend the historic night.

Pronovost, a former Hockey Ministries International staff member and current volunteer, commented about the memories of the Civic Arena and his time with the Penguins. "We worked hard and wanted to be successful,” Pronovost said. “We wanted to make Pittsburgh proud. We did our best, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. We had competition. I remember at that time Pittsburgh was called ‘City of Champions … Except the Penguins.’ But that’s changed now, so that goes in cycles.”

Pronovost remembers the "hard to swallow" playoff series in 1975 when Pittsburgh was up three games to none against the New York Islanders. The Penguins lost the next four straight games, to become at that time only the second team in NHL history to blow a 3-0 series lead.  

“Especially that series against the Islanders, we made some mistakes,” Pronovost said. “We should have put the nail in the coffin and we did not. We allowed them to come back and win it on a cheap goal in the seventh game. It hit Ed Westfall in the chest and fell into the net. But that’s hockey.”

JEAN PRONOVOST IN A GAME AT THE CIVIC ARENA AGAINST THE BOSTON BRUINS WHEN PITTSBURGH WORE BLUE JERSEYS

HMI staff member, Tim Donelli, also remembers the many great Penguins' players who played at the long-time arena that also went by the nickname of "The Igloo."  Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Donelli recalls how he first got involved in hockey. "I remember there was a "Stick Night" promotion in January of 1969 with the Penguins, where all kids 16 years of age and under got a free hockey stick. I begged my dad to take me to my first hockey game so I could get that stick. I fell in love with the game and the Penguins that night, even though Pittsburgh lost to the Oakland Seals 4-3."

Donelli came in contact with Hockey Ministries International in 1982 while a hockey broadcaster with the Baltimore Skipjacks, and became a full-time staff member in 1999. "Those early years of going to Penguins' games I would see players like Jean Pronovost, Dean Prentice, Davey Burrows and Michel Dion. I was not even a Christian then. Little did I know that years later those players and I would come to trust Jesus Christ as our Savior, and we would work together in Hockey Ministries International. God certainly wove an unusual web to get us together later in life."

So the curtain has closed on the Civic / Mellon Arena, leaving behind many wonderful memories for former players like Prentice, Pronovost, Burrows, Dion, Baxter and Chorney. And of course there's the 16-year old kid (Donelli) who in 1969 when he didn't even realize it, was being prepared by God for future service with HMI.  The Lord does truly work in mysterious ways.

NOTE:  Speaking of Pittsburgh, Hockey Ministries International will hold one of its' 32 weeks of Christian Hockey Camps International youth camps in the Steel City tihs summer. The camp runs from Sunday, July 11 through Friday, July 16. Current Pittsburgh Penguins player Mike Rupp will be one of the featured on-ice instructors at the Pittsburgh camp. For more information on the HMI PIttsburgh camp, CLICK HERE.  You may also send questions and inquries to the Pittsburgh camp e-mail address at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The staff of Hockey Ministries International is growing!  We want to introduce the newest HMI staff members to our friends, prayer warriors and supporters. We are grateful to the Lord for calling these people to service with our ministry, Please pray for them as they serve in various and important capacities. 

Susana Gonzalez serves Hockey Ministries International as the financial administrator and bookkeeper at Ministry Centre in Montreal. She has been with HMI for one year, and is a tireless worker.

Susana was born in Caracas, Venezuela and there earned a Bachelors degree in accounting. Following graduation, Gonzalez began working for an Italian petroleum company. After moving to Montreal, Susana earned a degree from Concordia University, majoring in accounting. She is married to husband Edmundo, and is the mother of two daughters.

"I want to say how grateful I am to be able to work in a Christian organization where you grow spiritually day by day," remarked Gonzalez. "My favorite scripture verse is Romans 5:3  - "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance."  Although I grew up watching baseball and soccer, I am actually starting to embrace hockey as my favorite sport. I feel a special passion and emotion when I watch my favorite team, the Montreal Canadiens."
  

Robert Dessouroux started with Hockey Ministies International this past February, and will work at Ministry Centre in Montreal as the camp administrator and handle various administrative duties. Robert was born and grew up in Europe in the country of Luxembourg.

Robert moved to Canada and attended Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, earning a degree in Business Management and Recreation. Dessouroux is most noted for being a member of the Luxembourg National Hockey Team, which competes in the International Ice Hockey Federation's Division III World Championships. With the Luxembourg National Team, Robert has played in Ireland, Iceland, New Zealand and Mexico.

Robert's favorite scripture verses are Philippians 4: 6 & 7 -  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, And the peace of God, which surpases all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."    

Shawn Paul currently resides in Brampton, Ontario and will be joining HMI as a field staff member. Shawn was born in Roblin, Manitoba and was raised in Rivers, Manitoba. After high school, Paul earned a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, North Dakota.

Shawn has been the Pastor of New Life Fellowship Centre in San Clara, Manitoba for the past 14 years. Giving up a potential junior career with the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings at the age of 15, Shawn felt the call to go into the ministry.  He says it was the best decision he has ever made. Now he will serve the Lord through HMI in Ontario as an Ontario Junior Hockey League chaplain, as well as recruiting, training, and mentoring other chaplains in the OJHL. In addition, Shawn will assist HMI's Christian Hockey Camps International camps in Ontario.

Paul is married to wife Jennifer, and is the father of two sons and a daughter. His life scripture verses are 1 Timothy 4: 7-8. "But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Chuck Jacobson is about to join Hockey Ministries International as a field staff member, serving in Saginaw, Michigan. Chuck has been the chaplain the past two seasons for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League.

Jacobson graduated from Spring Arbor College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Physical Education Major, and also attended Seattle Pacific University. After graduation Chuck spent 19 years working in management for Meijer Stores, Inc.

Early in 2000, Jacobson felt God's call into the ministry, He resigned from Meijers and became the Young Adult Pastor at Midland Community Church of the Nazarene in Midland, Michigan. In 2003 he became Associate Pastor of New Heart Church of the Nazarene in Freeland, Michigan before answering the Lord's call to join HMI full-time.

Chuck is married to wife Phyllis, and is the father of two sons and a daughter. Jacobson is also a District Licensed Minister through the MIchigan District Church of the Nazarene. He will continue to serve as chaplain of the Saginaw Spirit, and assist HMI with the development and growth of chapels and CHCI camps in the Michigan region.

In just one week Hockey Ministries International's "Christian Hockey Camps International's" 2010 program will be underway. The first of 32 weeks of youth hockey camps this summer will begin in St. Louis, Missouri on June 6.  HMI's summer camps include weeks of instruction in six different countries including Canada, the United States, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia.

Geared for boys and girls of all skill levels, age 9-17,  CHCI provides a world class, on ice program which is directed and overseen by a caring staff in a fun and high energy atmosphere. Each camp provides an engaging and well organized regimen, designed to challenge kids in body, mind and spirit with a solid Christian message.

HMI is also pleased to welcome a brand new camp in Williams Lake, British Columbia.   Located 360 miles north of Vancouver, BC and 150 miles south of Prince George, BC, the camp will be held July 25-July 30 at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.  Local Williams Lake residents, Keith and Marnie Brenner, are heading up camp efforts there and are excited about the new camp in their hometown.

The Williams Lake, BC camp will attract campers from all over British Columbia.		Former NHL # 1 Draft Pick Laurie Boschman will instruct at the HMI Williams Lake camp.

  "My wife took my 14 year-old son last year to the Hockey Ministries camp in Caronport, Saskatchewan," remarked Keith. "She thought it was such a great idea and wondered why there wasn't a camp out here in British Columbia. She said why don't we have one here, so we contacted Hockey Ministries and...and there it was!" 

20-Year NHL veteran Glen Wesley will be the featured instructor this summer at the CHCI camp in Raleigh, North Carolina		Mike Rupp from the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins will appear at the CHCI camp in Pittsburgh