"CHAPLAIN OF THE MONTH"
JUNE  2010

JIM NOLSON
OF THE NEWMARKET HURRICANES 
ONTARIO HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

Jim Nolson is the chaplain for the Newmarket Hurricanes of the Ontario Hockey Association.  Jim has been the chaplain for the Hurricanes for the past three seasons. While Nolson loves hockey as most Canadians do, he is also fond of golf. He is employed as an Independent Golf Professional and a Clubmaker/Fitter, as well as serving part-time as Men's Ministry and Worship Pastor for Grace Church in Newmarket. 

Jim laments that this past year was a tough one for him on several fronts and lists Isaiah 40 (1-5) as his favorite verses. "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God.  2  "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand Double for all her sins."  3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 4 "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 5 Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

While Hockey Ministries International chaplains primarily minister to players and coaches, their desire is to reach out to anyone connected with their team, including management, trainers, equipment managers arena personnel and fans. Nolson shares a heart-warming story of how the Lord used him to help the wife of the Newamrket Hurricanes equipment manager.

The wife of Hurricanes equipment manager Fred Thompson had just returned home from an eight-month hospital stay. Hope Thompson had just had her second leg removed. "The Thompsons have been in hockey forever." said Nolson. "Hope is the Newmarket Saints # 1 fan."  When Hope came home from the hospital, I visited the Thompsons regularly."

"They mentioned some special medical equipment needs that they had, but did not have the funds.  I mentioned these needs at my church, Grace Church in Newmarket, and the body of Christ there pitched in and provided funds to meet the Thompson's medical equipment needs. Please continue to pray for the Thompson family."

Nolson is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, and lists the Ottawa Senators Mike Fisher as his favorite National Hockey League player. Jim has been married to his wife Sharon for 20 years, and the Nolsons have three daughters.

Jim remarked several tools that are helping him in his role as the Hurricanes' chaplain. " I don’t know how chaplains in years past survived without Facebook, texting and emails! These tools have helped so much in connecting with the guys presently but also from years past."

"CHAPLAIN OF THE MONTH" 
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2010

 DAVE TROMBLY
PENSACOLA ICE FLYERS
SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

 Dave Trombly is the chaplain for the Pensacola Ice Flyers of the Southern Professional Hockey League.  This is Dave's first year as chaplain of the Ice Flyers in their inaugural season in the SPHL. Trombly was formerly the chaplain of the Pensacola Ice Pilots in 2003-04 when that team was a member of the ECHL.

Affectionately Dave is know as "T-Bone" by his friends and colleagues, and is currently in the United States Marine Corps Reserve – LtCol of Marines, Flight instructor at Training Squadron FOUR (VT-4) NAS Pensacola. He also works for Volant Systems LLC  as a defense contractor; developing Leadership and Risk Management courses and products for the United States Marine Corps.

Trombly was transfered to Rhode Island in 2004, and greatly missed not being able to continue serving as chaplain for the Ice Pilots. But the Lord would bring Dave back to Pensacola several years later, but, they didn't have a hockey team anymore. The ECHL Ice Pilots folded after the 2007- 2008 season. But God had another surprise for Dave. Pensacola was awarded a team in a different league, the Southern Professional Hockey League, and began play this season. They even brought back their former coach from the 2004 season, Todd Gordon, who Trombly had a great relationship with from his days as chaplain of  the Ice Pilots. So now chapels are taking place again in Pensacola, much to the delight of both Dave and Todd.

Originally from the Northeast USA, Dave lists the Boston Bruins as his favorite team, and Christian National Hockey League player David Booth of the Florida Panthers as his favorite player. Dave is married to Megan, and the Trombly's have six children including three sons and three daughters.  The Trombly's are faihtful members and attenders of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Dave's highlight as a chaplain centers around his new team, the Pensacola Ice Flyers. "Coach Todd Gordon had invited me to be chaplain five years ago when the ECHL team was here. He and I both left town and are now back again. We are both looking to be long-time residents of Pensacola this time."

"Coach and I reconnected this season and he invited me back as his chaplain. Coach is a solid believer and has placed God and Family before Hockey.  I truly believe that Todd is a living example of Matthew 6:33 “But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

"As a result of the priorities he has placed in his life, God has richly rewarded his faithfulness. Not only is Todd back behind the bench in Pensacola, but Pensacola has been blessed with a team once again. I have been richly blessed to be invited back into the locker room to minister to an incredibly motivated and talented group of modern day Gladiators."  

"In the first few weeks of the chapel program here in Pensacola, we have had almost complete team participation at each chapel held in the locker room following a non-game day practice. It is truly a God-thing and I am humbled to be a part of it.  I thank God for Todd and the example he sets for his team, and for Hockey Ministries International and the opportunity to serve with such a great organization again."

You have to be tough to be a Marine, but Dave met an enemy in 2000 that he couldn't defeat on his own. Trombly was diagnosed with cancer that year, which grounded him from flying and tested his faith. But Dave beat the cancer and is as healthy as can be. He gives total credit to the Lord for His Grace and Mercy. Psalm 91: 14-16  (14) "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. (15) He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. (16) With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation." These are his favorite scripture verses, and Dave and his family held onto them tightly as he battled his cancer.

"T-Bone" asked that you pray...1.) That the great start we have enjoyed due mainly to Coach Gordon’s enthusiasm to get this program going will be matched with the same enthusiasm the remaining weeks of this season.  2.) That our chapel program will get support from both my church and Todd’s to develop an “Adopt an Ice Flyer program” here in Pensacola, to get these guys out of their apartments and around solid Christian families for dinner and fellowship if they desire take part.  3.) For wisdom and compassion when / if the players do call or seek advice or discipleship outside of the chapel visits.  I would enjoy that one-on-one relationship building. 

 HMI'S "CHAPLAIN OF THE MONTH" FOR JANUARY, 2010

 DAN UNRAU OF THE VANCOUVER GIANTS OF THE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE

Dan Unrau is the chaplain for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League.  Dan has been the Giants' chaplain since 2003.

Dan is the Lead Pastor of the Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church in Richmond, British Columbia, and has been serving in that capacity since 1992. "Being a hockey chaplain is a great privilege, delight and responsibility," says Unrau. "More than church ministry, it is so much waiting to see where the opportunities will arise. It is humbling and exhilerating, and it is good for me in my walk with God."

Unrau has several favorite stories from the Bible. He states...."Moses was whining that he doesn't knwo what to say when he is asked by God to confront Pharoah. The Lord assures Moses that He will tell him what to say, and that also birng along some help in this task. (Aaron)"  Another favorite of Dan's is....."Jesus and the 'woman at the well' story. Jesus confronts, but is still able to communicate in no uncertain terms that He loves her.  WOW!"

Dan's favorite NHL team is of course, the Vancouver Canucks. He notes his favorite NHL players are former Vancouver Giants, (Milan Lucic with the Boston Bruins, Gilbert Brule with the Edmonton Oilers, and Evander Kane with the Atlanta Thrashers)

Unrau's family include his wife Lois, their daughter Shoshanna and her husband Andrew, daughter Aila and her husband Dean, and their son Levi. The Unrau's also have a grandchild. (Koen). Two of Dan's favorite Bible teachers are Phillip Yancy and Tim Keller. 

Hockey Ministries International is currently staging chapels in 27 professional and amateur leagues across North America this season. Over 250 volunteer HMI chaplains serve nearly 1,700 players who are attending chapels. HMI is still seeking volunteer chaplains in certain cities and for teams where there are openings. If you are interested in applying for consideration to become an HMI chaplain or know someone who may be interested, please contact Don Liesemer Jr. at (514) 395-1717 ext. 223, or e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

HMI'S 'CHAPLAIN OF THE MONTH FOR DECEMBER, 2009 - IKE BULLARD

Ike Bullard is the chaplain for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL. Ike just completed his fifth season as chaplain for the Stingrays, who just claimed their third ECHL "Kelly Cup" Championship on June 6. He is well liked by the entire Stingrays organization, and has been loved by the many South Carolina players he has served these past five years.     

Bullard has always loved sports and was a football player in high school. In college he played defensive back for the East Carolina University football team. He is also a Vietnam veteran, having served in the US Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot. In 1968 he was awarded the prestigious "Purple Heart" for bravery after getting his shot up helicopter and injured crew back to his medical unit. Today Ike is a teacher and coach at Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, South Carolina. 

Ike with ECHL Chapel Coordinator Tim Donelli		Ike and his Stingrays players following a playoff chapel

But Ike was almost knocked out of the game of life in 2007, but ended up defeating one of life's biggest foes.....cancer. Bullard had his first-ever colonoscopy on December of 2007. The procedure gave Ike news that was not good. He had Stage 2 colon cancer. In late January and early February Bullard has two surgeries to remove two tumors in his colon. At the end of his second surgery, Bullard had a test of his 29 lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread. To Ike and his wife's Sharon's relief, It hadn't. "When I found out the cancer hadn't spread, I was very thankful," said Bullard.

Now Ike is able to continue his HMI chaplaincy ministry for the Stingrays, and for the Charleston, SC Riverdogs minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League. Bullard is married to wife of 32 years Sharon, and has four sons, Kevin, Jeff, Ashby and Jeff.

Don Richmond, a full-time Hockey Ministries International staff member who coordinates ministry in the Canadian province of British Columbia, has been selected as a chaplain at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.  Richmond will serve as one of a dozen chaplains who will be available to the hundreds of athletes at the Winter Olympics. It is a three-week venture, and Richmond is looking forward to this fabulous opportunity with much anticipation.

HMI CHAPLAIN DON RICHMOND		ROBSON SQUARE IN VANCOUVER

Andrew Carroll is a rookie with the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers. He is a regular attender at the Checkers' Hockey Ministries International's chapels, and also serves as the teams's chapel leader. Carroll has also served as an instructor at HMI summer youth camps, including serving as an instructor at HMI's 2009 camp in Raleigh, North Carolina with Carolina Hurricanes legend, Glen Wesley, and former National Hockey League goaltender, Dan Bouchard.

Andrew was recently featured on NHL.com in a story by NHL.com Correspondent, Lindsay Kramer. (Below is Kramer's story from NHL.com)

For Checkers' Carroll all about love of the game

Charlotte Checkers forward Andrew Carroll is having trouble grasping this whole notion of professional leverage.
 
Consider the rookie's assertion that, if given a place to sleep and enough money to buy a few meals, he'd play pro hockey for virtually nothing.

  "Oh yeah. I'm just fortunate enough to play hockey," said Carroll, 24. "To be honest, I don't know what else I'd be doing if I wasn't playing hockey. I don't need money. It's not an issue. You get your hockey equipment for free."