Glen Bueckert has been playing or coaching ice hockey for most of his 54 years. When he and his wife, Lorrain, recognized the need for ministry in Canada’s number one sport, they began YWAM Hockey. Based in Vancouver, Canada, YWAM Hockey has taken the love of this national sport and turned it into an international ministry. “YWAM Hockey got started to disciple hockey players..and to share God’s love with the many kids who play hockey in Canada and around the world,” says Glen. By offering a variety of ways for youth to get involved, including Summer of Service programs and camps, hundreds of students and kids have been impacted.

Ice hockey is in the very fabric of Canadian culture. The people of Canada have very diverse backgrounds but most Canadians find a common ground in hockey in some way, whether it’s their favorite National Hockey League team, their local hockey team, or the team their kids play on. In 2005, 540 000 Canadians were registered in amateur hockey leagues. As Glen says, “Hockey is Canada; Canada is hockey!”

YWAM Hockey’s Discipleship Training School program focuses on teaching the character development and discipleship skills of the classic DTS program, as well as getting on the ice 3 times a week plus off-ice drills. Glen explains, “They learn team systems and hockey . . . to prepare them to play games and teach skills [on outreach].” The last Hockey DTS traveled to the Perm Region of Russia with a focus on playing, sharing skills and showing God’s love. In 7 cities hundreds of kids and adults encountered God through sharing and giving out Bibles.

Through coaching kids teams during the day and playing men’s teams at night the DTS students saw people respond to the quality of their training and their testimonies.
During the last outreach the team ran out of Bibles as players and fans were offered a gift from this travelling DTS. “After the last game we presented a Bible to each kid on the team and then we proceeded to give out a couple hundred Bibles to anyone at the rink who wanted one!” says Glen, “This was an example of how God uses hockey to transform communities and individuals.”

YWAM Hockey also ministers in Canada in local communities and among the First Nations villages.

To find out more about YWAM Hockey, Discipleship Training Schools, Summer Hockey Camps and Clinics, or the Hockey Summer of Service, visit www.ywamhockey.com