Hockey Ministries International was pleased to stage a "Faith Night" promotion with the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls on October 7 at the Yardmen Arena in Belleville, Ontario. After a hard-fought and exciting 3-2 overtime win by the Bulls over the Ottawa 67's, former National Hockey League ironman, Laurie Boschman, shared his journey of hockey as well as his faith journey with Jesus Christ to an attentive post-game audience of 200 Belleville fans. 

"It was a great evening and we can't thank the Bulls' organization enough for their kindness and cooperation in allowing us to stage this exciting event," remarked HMI Ontario Team Leader, Paul Allen.  "A great group of Belleville fans stayed to hear Laurie's testimony after the game, and were captured by his story of his life in hockey and his new life with Jesus Christ."  Those that joined Allen in the planning of the event included HMI staffer, Jeff Jackson, Bulls' chaplain Bruce Mackay, Bulls' Assistant Chaplain, Jesse Hebert and Kingston Frontenacs' chaplain, Mike Hogeboom.

Boschman, who played with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators, talked about his ups and downs of playing hockey in a nearly 20-year amateur and professional career. The Major, Saskatchewan native was the # 1 draft choice of the Leafs in 1979, and clearly remembers how he fell out of favor with then Toronto owner Harold Ballard. Boschman was traded from the Leafs to the Edmonton Oilers late in the 1981-82 season.

HMI STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS FROM (L-R) PAUL ALLEN, BRUCE MACKAY, LAURIE BOSCHMAN, JEFF JACKSON, MIKE HOGEBOOM AND JESSE HEBERT.	FORMER NHL PLAYER LAURIE BOSCHMAN SHARES HIS TESTIMONY AT THE BULLS "FAITH NIGHT" ON OCTOBER 7.

Laurie, who joined the staff of Hockey Ministries International fifteen years ago, ended his professional NHL career as the first captain of the expansion Ottawa Senators in 1992. From junior hockey with the MJHL's Brandon Travelers and the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, to his final NHL season with Ottawa, Boschman's story includes many professional and personal highs and lows. The toughest of all was losing his wife, Nancy, to cancer four years ago. However, Laurie shared with the Belleville fans that his ultimate "high" was finding eternal life through a personal realtionship with Jesus Christ.

Again Hockey Ministries International would like to thank the Belleville Bulls organization and all the fans who stayed after the game for a great evening of hockey and inspiration.