.png)
The Waywayseecappo Wolverines ended their regular season with not just a win but also a prayer.
While the Manitoba Junior Hockey League team defeated the Winnipeg Blues, 3-1, on March 14, several Wolverine players huddled at center ice in prayer following the game.
While Bev Hunter, whose son Cole plays on the team, didn't know that it was going to happen, she was encouraged to see him share his faith publicly. "I'm really proud of them. And I think it's great because, I mean, he knows Jesus and for him to take such a public stance is amazing."
Pastor Joel Usick from Shoal Lake Baptist Church, which happens to be Cole's home church says it's encouraging to see faith played out in hockey and not just a church service. "It isn't a religious event. And yet we see our faith being practiced, and I think that's such a special thing for many reasons. One of them is that there's something to be thankful for. Just in our country and in our area it's still something that we're able to do to practice our faith in public."
Shoal Lake Baptist Church shared a post on social media about the prayer and the response from the community has blown away Usick. "There's been over 23,000 views now, which is way over what the views on our posts are. To see this wide unanimous acceptance and praise for this action is really quite surprising. So to see such wide support and encouragement for the players in this practice shows that there are people all across this province that want to see young men and young women follow Jesus."
"A group of players from the home team—young men in front of 500+ people—gathered at center ice, formed a circle, knelt, placed hands on each other’s shoulders, and prayed. In a world that often shies away from faith in public, these athletes took a stand, or rather, a knee, unashamed to practice their faith in the place they love to be the most," Shoal Lake Baptist Church posted to Facebook.
This isn't the first time MJHL players prayed following a game. Winkler Flyers goalie, Leif Ekblad, prays following every home game.
Usick says it's special to see players show their faith in front of large crowds. "There's a short and growing history of hockey and faith. It's cool to see that kind of showcase brought forward. Speaking with Bev, there are prayers of thankfulness for protection."
He said that the players have also prayed the Lord's Prayer. "It's amazing to think of Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray. And 2,000 years later, hockey players skate to the middle of the ice to pray the same prayer that Jesus taught us to pray and to see that continuation of our faith in a public arena is so encouraging to us."
He continues to say, "To know that Gen. Z, is open about their faith, and studies are showing they are the most open to spirituality of any generation in recorded history. And so they are leading the charge for some of us and just showcasing what it means to follow Jesus and not be ashamed of the gospel."