Bruins Chapels Start Today

There are a lot of changes with the Chilliwack Bruins this year. With a new coaching staff and many new players, it has been educational for me to see the changes being rolled out.

I am very fortunate and grateful that the coaching staff does support the work of a chaplain with the team. They have been very gracious and supportive as we are getting to know each other.

This is my 4th year as the chaplain for the Chilliwack Bruins and after the season opener is when the first chapel is usually scheduled.

This year, the first chapel starts today at 5:00pm at the rink.

We bring in food (usually lots of protein and carbs) and I have a talk from scripture about life and hockey. There is often some lively discussion and prayer for the team at the end.

Can't wait for 5:00pm.

Bruins Faith Night 09

Faith Night 09 was on Friday, February 20th when the Bruins hosted the Rockets.  

It was worth all the effort leading up to the event.  This was my first large event that I was a part of - the Bruins staff put on one every home game.  I am amazed at how much work goes into putting on a WHL hockey game.  There are the rink operations staff, the Bruins staff, people that we brought in from the community to promote their cause and the band Sterr who provided great music for us.  It was a lot of co-ordinating for everyone.  

I was left with so many impressions.  The Bruins staff were wonderful.  They wanted to make this event positive for everyone and they went out of their way to do so.   Thanks Barry, Derek, Vanni, Jacob, Andrea, Janice, Zelda, Robbie and Randy.  The coaches, Jim and Dan were very supportive and assisted us with the players when we needed to have their involvement.  

The causes/agencies that came in to promote their cause, they were all very positive about how things went for them.  MCC, Worldvision, Salvation Army, Hungry for Life, BC Teen Challenge, Stoney Creek Expeditions, Unity Christian School were terrific to work with and I'm so glad they were all there.  Hopefully they will be back and maybe be able to have an additional 4-8 more causes/agencies.

The Prospera staff were very helpful and wanted to make this event a positive one and their contributions certainly paved the way.  Thanks Lars, Greg (and his staff) and Willa.

Heartland was tremendous in giving me the permission and blessing to be involved with Faith Night.  Many too were at the game.  

Looking forward to Faith Night 2010.  

Buy Bruins Tickets and Help Build A House For Homeless Oaxacans

Friday, January 23rd, the Chilliwack Bruins take on the Kelowna Rockets. Game time 7:00pm.

In partnership with the Bruins, Heartland Youth are selling game tickets as a fund raiser for a trip we are planning this summer down the Baja of Mexico to build a house for a homeless Oaxacan family.

Game tickets are $14/each.

We also have raffle tickets for a David Robinson game worn jersey (1st prize) and a team signed hockey stick (2nd prize).

Raffle tickets are $2/each.

Support a great cause and purchase game tickets and raffle tickets.

Raffle draw will be following the 2nd period.

email me "mikevkshema at yahoo.com" if you want to help

Pink In The Bruin's Rink

The Bruins was pink in the rink last night - creating awareness and raising funds for cancer. It was a tremendous night (if you ignore the score of the game).

So many things went well. There was no question what the theme was when you walked in the door. Pink ties, pink shirts, pink trucker hats, and pink hoodies. Most of the 4,800 crowd had pink on. Then there were the skin head wanna-be's. There was a shave-your-head station (thanks Michelle) and people could donate money and get their head shaved. During the first intermission, four of our own shaved their heads at center ice- Derek, Barry, Matt, and Vanni. Vanni had the most to loose, Barry the least. Andrea - who just finished treatments and is a huge part of the Bruins organization - was shaving heads and loving every minute of it. Some of the players were using pink Easton sticks that were auctioned off and raised hundreds for cancer.

Cancer is something that has touched all our lives. I lost my mom 20 years ago. I observed the road from diagnosis to treatments to hair loss, to loss of life. It is so tragic and I think that is why so many of us empathize and show up for nights like Pink In The Rink. There is a story about one of the players, Andy Smith, who cancer has affected profoundly.

It takes a huge push and massive planning to put on an event this large and far reaching. I know the Chilliwack Bruins staff have been working on this since this summer, at least that is when I first saw the loud pink Easton stick in the office.

Great work everyone. Great cause. It touched us all.

Update On Jadon Potter

Some good news about Jadon Potter today.

Jadon will be released from the hospital soon. Here is the article from the Chilliwack Bruins site:

November 22, 2008

After being injured in Friday's game vs the Tri City Americans, Bruins Captain Jadon Potter was taken to Chilliwack hospital where he was given a series of tests including a CT scan. He was moved to Vancouver General Hospital at 1am. Some damage to the vertebrae in his neck was discovered. As a result, he has been fitted with a neck brace which he will be wearing for approximately 6-8 weeks. No damage to his spinal cord was discovered and no surgery was required.

He is expected to make a full recovery.

Jadon has been released from the hospital and will be returning to Chilliwack this evening.

The Chilliwack Bruins on behalf of Jadon Potter and his family would like to thank everyone for their concern and their support.

Continue to pray for his full recovery.

Pray for Jadon Potter

During last night's Bruins game, Jadon went headfirst into the boards. Here is a write up from The Province.

In the second period of last night's Chilliwack Bruins/Tri-City Americans game at Prospera Centre, Bruins' centre Jadon Potter slammed head first into the boards behind his own goal, racing back to defend what turned out to be a short-handed goal.

There's nothing official from the team at this point but assistant coach Dan Price did say "the current information from the medical staff is positive and the prognosis is good. He's expected to make a full recovery."

No one on the team would comment further at this point, but early suggestions are that Potter could have a fractured vertebra that would keep him out for the rest of the season, but again, nothing is confirmed. The Bruins expect to have more information tonight or tomorrow morning.

Potter was taken by ambulance to Chilliwack General and after X-rays there, moved to VGH by ambulance around 1 a.m.

Teammate Matt Meropoulis, who was on the ice at the time of the incident, said the team was really shaken last night, but their spirits were lifted after talking to Potter post-game and again today.

"In the room it was just dead silence," Meropoulis said of the time the teams were sent back to their rooms while Potter was attended to. "It was beyond the game.

"I spoke with him today and he's actually in great sprits. He's a tough guy to get down."

Potter's mom flew into Vancouver this morning. Potter is Chilliwack's leading scorer, with seven goals and 22 points in 26 games. Chilliwack lost 2-0 to Tri-City.

At the time of Potter's injury, the ambulance crew was already responding to a woman in the stands who was having a seizure. The crew split up and both the fan and Potter were transported to Chilliwack General together.

update: another article in the chilliwack progress by eric welsh (here).

Adopt A Player Program

When the Bruins came to town, we at Heartland began to ask the question how can we support the team and players.

One idea that came was the idea of having people from Heartland regularly pray for the players. We wanted to pray for each player for safety with all their travel, safety during the games and we also wanted to pray for God's blessing on their lives.

So, we created the adopt a player program where a family from Heartland would "adopt" a player and pray for that player every day.

We didn't know how if it would work, or if people would want to adopt a player, not to pray for them, but as a fan with the hopes of meeting them or getting their autograph etc. But we found that Heartland people have been more than willing to just pray. Just serve.

For the past three seasons we have been doing this and it has been a way for us to serve and help where we can.

It's amazing how many ways there are to serve other people. It just takes some time to think of them, risk and try them and learn along the way. This reverses the mindset that church is only to be blessed. Instead church is a place to receive a blessing to pass on a blessing. Without the passing on the blessing part, the church borders on narcissism.

We are still learning how to do this at Heartland

Randy Merkley

With the Chilliwack Bruins season just starting, Chilliwack got their first experience with Randy Merkley, the new Bruins radio voice.

Following the Kamloops game on Saturday, where Randy called his first game here, the discussion boards were buzzing with high ratings. I think he's going to bring another level of passion to an already impassioned hockey town.

Before the game on Saturday he was working the rink doing interviews. At one point, while interviewing a coach, he was so involved with the interview he didn't notice that a Zamboni just about ran him over - what did bother him is that interview may have been affected by the engine noise. Great moment.

Here is a write up in the Chilliwack Progress on Merkley's arrival:

In three years of existence, the Chilliwack Bruins have rolled three different guys through the radio play-by-play role.

In year one, veteran Denny Larochelle handled the gig, followed by Dave Sheldon in year two.

This year, it’s Randy Merkley, and here’s hoping he hangs onto the job for a while, because it’s a position crying out for stability.

“Yeah, I’ll agree with that one,” said radio colour man Jacob Bestebroier, who called his first game with Merkley Saturday night. “I think that’s why Randy’s a good hire. It’s a big move for him and I don’t see him going back the other way any time soon.” More here.

Golfing In August

Went golfing yesterday with two friends.

Cultus lake golf course was beautiful. Too bad my game wasn't. August is the best month of the year for me in BC. The weather is perfect, the gardens and trees are in their full glory and I feel better in August than any other month. I find I sleep better, more creative, writing comes easier and August can be a laid back month so connections with people are easier.

The Chilliwack Bruins players come back into town, the office staff is working hard and there is an air of expectation within the rink. In my line of work, August is a month of planning and preparing for the next 8-10 months. I'm visioning and imagining what we as a church could engage in, planning a fall teaching series and inviting people into organized service work.

Golfing in August is awesome. Even when my game stinks.

Oh Ya, I Can Relate.

I love this commercial! I have a friend who has a friend who is like this (in 90, 92, 94, 01).




props to Jordon

Hockey Ministries International and Chilliwack Bruins

The 2nd season for the Chilliwack Bruins is in full gear. Training camp and the preseason is in the books, and the team roster has been chosen. My work with the team began last year as team chaplain. It's a great ministry. Hockey Ministries (HMI) has a partnership with the WHL to provide chaplains for each of the teams in the league. When the Bruins announced that they were starting a new franchise in Chilliwack, HMI sent me to the Bruins as one of the chaplains. Being a hockey guy who also works with youth made this was a natural fit. Last year everything was new. The team was new, the coaches were new and the players were new. Looking back, it was a great year. The team was very supportive of the Chaplain concept. They gave me space and permission to connect with the team. We put on 2 chapels a month and I stayed in touch with the players, praying for them and helping them process life issues. This year we are building on what we learned last year and trying to make adjustments based on what could be improved and what went well. We had our first chapel last week and we are off to a great start. It's going to be a great year.

Summer

Summer is here. Yes! This is my favorite season. Here are some things the VK's and I are up to.

• Preparing for a missions trip to the Baja of Mexico. 23 of us from Heartland are traveling to an impoverished area of Mexico. We'll be ministering within a farm work camp by doing VBS, building a house (or two depending on our fundraising) for a family and feeding the camp a meal.
  
• Yard project. I've from Terrace, so I thought I'd make a terrace on my sloped back yard. Lots of work. I've moved around about 50 yards of material with a shovel and wheelbarrow.
  
• Don't have an iPhone yet (doubt if I ever will).
  
• Patti and the kids are coming back from camping today. Hopefully the mosquitoes were not too bad.
• The weather is hot, last night when I couldn't sleep at 1:00am, the house was 89 degrees.
  
• Purchased a spinner exercise bike to work out on. Trying to get my old legs ready for the upcoming rec. hockey season. I'm going to start in August since I'm taking a two month break from hockey. Some injuries are healing nicely now.
  
• July 25th is our 20th wedding anniversary. Wow!
• I'm taking some time off in August (August is my favorite month of the year!)
  
• Wishing I had a surfing trip planned, sigh.
  
• Working through the book of Ecclesiastes. For many of us it is a back burner book, yet many have expressed how relevant the book has been for them during this series.
• Lots of friends/people in Heartland are going through hard times. Their hardships are constantly on my mind. I try to shift the concern to prayer. But I'm not always successful.
• I married a couple on the beach of Kilby last weekend.
  
• I'm looking forward to the Bruins training camp -- to get back in the swing of chaplaincy. I officially don't like the off season.
• I'm having lunch with James today, our new council president. It's going to be a great year of ministry at Heartland!
  

Spring Break

There are a few things going on with the VK family now that it is spring break.

Someone said it started raining in October and it hasn't stopped here in Chilliwack. It has been a wet, dark winter for us so we decided to pack up and head for LA! After working on Monday, we'll head out on Tuesday and drive south, searching for the sun. Levi and I have been fixing the dings on the surf boards and we are all getting excited about see our old friends - including the beach and sun.

The Chilliwack Bruins continue their successful inaugural season by making it into the playoffs. It's been an up and down year for them, but they have worked hard and are now going to the dance. It starts next week and they will be facing the Giants. They beat the Kamloops Blazers last night 5-0. And tonight, for the last game of the regular season, they will face the Giants. Should be a little preview of what the playoffs will be like. Then following the game there will be the team's award ceremony.

Garrett Robinson’s Condition Continues To Improve

Garrett Robinson’s condition continues to improve. While driving home after completing a road trip, Garrett and two others were hit by a drunk driver. Garrett suffered the most serious injuries and his future was in question. The whole WHL responded with compassion. There were prayers offered, donations given and many people sent emails and cards. It was amazing to watch people in the hockey community care for one of it's own.

An article on the WHL web site, written by Garrett's father, was posted yesterday on his improving condition.

Thursday December 21st, 2006 1:00pm: - The family of Garrett Robinson and the members of the Moose Jaw Warriors organization issued the latest update on Garrett’s condition and Rehabilitation as written by Garrett’s father Randy Robinson:

Garrett was moved from the Royal Columbia hospital a few weeks ago to G. F. Strong Rehabilitation hospital. He has shown great progress in his rehabilitation. Garrett is walking now without having to use any walking devices and has stopped using a cane. He has had the wires removed from his broken jaw two weeks ago and is now starting to eat solid foods.

more here

Chilliwack Bruins First Half Of The Season

The Chilliwack Bruins WHL hockey team have been a huge part of the City of Chilliwack in the past two years. We've had the privilege of watching a new team develop. From the hiring of a GM, coaching staff, and front office to watching the new players come together to play the great game of hockey -- it has all been a great thing for this city and for hockey fans.

The team has just come off a week long successful road trip to Alberta, and Dave Sheldon took the opportunity to interview the Bruins General Manager, Darrell May, on his thoughts on the first half of the season.

It's a fascinating interview presenting both the challenges of building a new team and the long term thinking and planning involved. There is much more to hockey than the score at the end of the game and this interview gives us a little window to look into it.

Bruins first half recap
December 16th, 2006

Bruins broadcaster Dave Sheldon had the opportunity earlier this week to discuss the first half of the season with Bruins General Manager Darrell May.

Dave Sheldon: The team has 10 wins at the half way mark, obviously you’d like to have more but you have to be happy with the way the team has become more competitive as of late.

Darrell May: I think so, obviously we would like to have more than ten wins at this point in the season but we’ve faced adversities with injuries and what not. I think we’ve battled hard through those adversities and we’ve been competitive. A lot of games could have gone either way. Our team has gotten tougher mentally as the season has gone and our young players have come along quicker because of the adversities we’ve been through.

more here