Titans hockey heads to Slovakia

Posted by admin on Feb 6, 2008 in News | 0 comments

The Titans will be taking Canada’s favourite sport to the international stage this Spring Break, as the team is set to travel to Slovakia, a country located in Central Europe.

From February 21 to March 3, the team will be visiting this part of the world to play hockey games with local teams, minister and enjoy sightseeing.

This trip first took place in 2003 when head coach Chuck Macknee teamed up with Athletes in Action to bring students to Slovakia. Macknee said now would be a good time to return.

This will be the largest group to go, as 20 team members and a few alumni make their way to Slovakia.

Team member Adam Ratcliff will again be traveling to Slovakia with the team. According to Ratcliff, they will be working in association with the Athletes in Action, although still representing Trinity Western University.

In addition to playing hockey, the Titans will be inviting the opposing teams out for dinner before or after the games. During these dinners, Titan team members will be sharing their testimonies through the use of translators, described Ratcliff.
“On top of that we might spend time playing street hockey with kids at the orphanage,” adds Ratcliff.

Macknee asserts that the trip will involve more than just the sports aspect. Instead, he describes a three-fold goal: “[We want to] present the gospel, help our guys see how to use hockey as a ministry and grow and mature in character.” He also adds that representing TWU in an international sphere is an important component.

To reach this goal, the team will work with youth groups, coffee house ministries, and churches, says Macknee.

With the final preparations still coming together, the team will host a fundraiser prior to the trip. On February 17, the team will be hosting a banquet at the Fort Langley Evangelical Free Church where former NHL player Ryan Walter will be addressing donors and supporters.

The evening will include a silent auction, music and entertainment for $30 per person to help teammates pay the $2,300 needed for each player to go, said Macknee.

The team is also collecting recyclables to finance the trip. Many, like Ratcliff, have also contributed their own funds.

“I am very excited about sharing my faith,” said Ratcliff. He added that while hockey is a big part of their trip, it is only a bonus after sharing the gospel with Slovakians.

Macknee adds that in previous years, “at the end of the trip, when guys talk about what was meaningful to them, it is usually about a conversation they had; it is hardly ever about hockey.”