Travis Hamonic — Athletes For God

$(Photo by Gerry Thomas/Calgary Flames) Before I meet with the kids, I ask God to help me say the right things. Everyone’s story is unique, so I try to make sure that whatever I say can help them. Whatever their story, whatever their struggle, I hope God helps me inspire them. Even before I get to the rink, I try to put my mind right by heading over to my local church. Even if it’s just for 2, 3, or maybe 5 minutes, it just gives me peace. Peace about what’s happened in the past, and peace about what’s about to happen later that night. My wife prays for me before I take the ice, and then I say a prayer of my own before the game starts, just asking for God’s presence and knowing that my guardian angel is out there somewhere. I was asked recently if that guardian angel is my Dad, but I think I’ve had the same guardian angel since I’ve been born. But I do believe my Dad is watching me play hockey from Heaven. I don’t try and push my beliefs on anyone, but if anyone asks, I’m happy to tell them. Or even more simply, they can just look at my left arm. The tattoo near my shoulder is of God carrying someone by the ocean. You’ve probably heard the story about how a man walking along the beach with God saw four footprints in the sand, but when he looked back at the most difficult times in his life, he only saw two footprints. When the man noticed the missing set of footprints, he asked God why He abandoned him during those rough times, only to discover that the two footprints were because God was carrying him during those times in need. When I look in the mirror now, and I can see what God has given me, I know that God indeed carried me through those tough times. And even though I’m not God, I hope I can lift others up as well. The Bible says that in Heaven there is no sorrow, or crying, or pain, so I know that my Dad is resting peacefully there. I just hope that when he’s watching me from Heaven, he knows that I still carry him with me wherever I go. Page 1 Page 2 .ad_responsive_1 {text-align:center !important; margin:auto; width:100%;} @media(min-width: 500px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 468px; height: 60px; } } @media(min-width: 800px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 728px; height: 90px; } } (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});$

Thomas HagerJanuary 18, 2019 Comments

$(Photo by Gerry Thomas/Calgary Flames) As anxious as I was for my NHL debut, I was actually more nervous to ask Stephanie out on a date. We had known each other since high school, but it wasn’t until I was 19 that I asked her out. The funny thing is, I had known her for all those years when we were younger, but it only took me one date to realize she was the one. On my way home from that first date, after I dropped her off, I actually had the thought that I was going to marry her. There was something so special about her, and I knew right away. We’ve been together ever since, and now we’re approaching nine years together. It was easy to fall in love with Stephanie, because she stood for the same values that I did. She also grew up in a Catholic household, and our faith was a big part of our relationship. I’m so thankful God gave me a soulmate who believes in the same things I do. That aspect of our relationship is more important now than ever, because eight months ago we welcomed our daughter, Charlie Hamonic into the world. Becoming a Dad and raising Charlie together with my wife has been the most spectacular gift that God could have given me. The delivery went smooth, and I’m so thankful that God gave us a healthy baby. One of the coolest parts about being a Dad is to pass along my faith to our baby, and seeing her get baptized was one of the best days of my life. The interesting thing is that the older Charlie gets, the more I think about my own parents. How they would have treated situations, and what they would have done if they were in my shoes. My mom set the bar pretty high, and even though I only got to know my Dad for 10 years, I remember him being the same. I knew what an impact my Dad had in my life, and that’s why I wanted to try and help out other kids who had experienced the same thing as me. Jesus commanded us to love your neighbors like you love yourself, and my D-Partner program is just an extension of that commandment. I know God blessed me with talent and gave me an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, so it was my responsibility to use that platform for good. I was fortunate to have a good support system around me when I was a kid, but I know that isn’t the case for every child who loses a parent. Some kids don’t have other siblings, and some don’t have either parent. My goal with the D-Partner program is different for each kid. Sometimes it’s to give kids hope and encouragement that things will be okay. For others, it’s simply to make them smile or just take them out to a hockey game. Whatever the case is each night, I know that it’s worth doing. Page 1 Page 3 .ad_responsive_1 {text-align:center !important; margin:auto; width:100%;} @media(min-width: 500px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 468px; height: 60px; } } @media(min-width: 800px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 728px; height: 90px; } } (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});$

Thomas HagerJanuary 18, 2019

$Every game, win or lose, I’ve got about 20 minutes. In 20 minutes I need to wash out everything - good or bad - that just happened on the ice, because waiting there for me is a little kid. A little kid who lost his dad. My name is Travis Hamonic, and I am a defenseman for the Calgary Flames. My job on the ice is pretty intense, and I take my job seriously, but every single night when I step off the ice I quickly put things in perspective. And even now, after more than 500 NHL games and tons of visits with the kids, those moments never fail to hit home. That’s because I was once in their shoes. When I was a 10-year-old kid in Manitoba, I lost my own dad. And if it wasn’t for my family and my faith, I don’t know where I would be today. My dad died of a heart attack at the age of 44, and my family was completely unprepared for it. I don’t know if anything could ever prepare you to hear news like that. When I woke up that morning it was just a normal day, and by the end of the night my world had been turned upside down. As horrible as the situation was, it helped knowing that I wasn’t going through it all by myself. My mother and siblings were all going through it as well, and while I wouldn’t wish that situation upon anybody, we were all able to come closer together because of it. The other thing that really helped was knowing that I would get to see my Dad again. As a Catholic, I believe that my Dad is in Heaven right now. And thanks to my faith in Jesus, and Him dying on the cross for my sins, I’ll get to join my Dad some day.     (Photo by Gerry Thomas/Calgary Flames) My faith means everything to me, and God comes first in all aspects of my life. My Dad was no different. His faith was just as important to him, and if I ever needed an example of what God’s unconditional love looked like, all I had to do was look at my Dad. It’s been 18 years since I last saw my Dad, but not a day goes by that I don’t think about him. That’s never been more true than these days, because now I’m a dad myself. Page 2 Page 3 (Title photo courtesy of Gerry Thomas/Calgary Flames) .ad_responsive_1 {text-align:center !important; margin:auto; width:100%;} @media(min-width: 500px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 468px; height: 60px; } } @media(min-width: 800px) { .ad_responsive_1 { width: 728px; height: 90px; } } (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});$

Thomas HagerJanuary 18, 2019