Hockey Ministries International

What Hockey Ministries International does

Hockey Ministries International (HMI) is a federally registered Canadian nonprofit founded in 1977 by Don Liesemer, who continues to serve as President. HMI operates at the intersection of youth hockey culture and Christian ministry, delivering three core programs: (1) Christian Hockey Camps — week-long overnight and day camps combining world-class on-ice instruction with Christian living training for ages 7-17, run across 7 countries (USA, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Czechia) at partner venues; (2) Hockey Chapel programs — interactive devotional sessions delivered free of charge to over 300 teams across 42 leagues during the hockey season; and (3) Home Ice — a digital content platform featuring videos, blogs, devotionals, and the Parables video series that extends engagement year-round.

The organization serves approximately 2,000 youth annually through camps and reaches thousands more through seasonal chapel programs and digital content. A Pro-Hockey Alumni Group connects former professional players through monthly Zoom chapels and bi-weekly discussion groups, generating testimonial content and donor cultivation. Camp operations are explicitly run on break-even budgets to keep fees affordable, with a Camper Fund providing up to half-cost sponsorship for families in need; the organization's financial sustainability rests on donations and charitable contributions leveraged against its 501(c)(3) status in the US and registered charity status in Canada.

HMI's technology footprint is deliberately minimal: camp registration runs on ActiveNetwork, email marketing on Constant Contact, website on the Radiant CMS, and merchandise through a third-party storefront. There is no proprietary technology, mobile app, or API. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Ralph Loader (Montreal), with members including David Booth (Detroit), Jim Nill (Dallas), and others, and is supported by 900+ unpaid volunteers across regional committees, camp instruction, and chapel programs. The 50th anniversary season in 2026 marks nearly five decades of operation with over 75,000 cumulative camp attendees.

Name

Hockey Ministries International

Legal name

Hockey Ministries International

Website

http://hockeyministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hockey Ministries International is a Canadian nonprofit founded in 1977 that runs Christian Hockey Camps, team chapel programs, and digital content for youth hockey players, families, and alumni across 7 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Ministry Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Christian hockey camps
• Youth hockey ministry
• Hockey chapel programs
• Faith-based sports education
• Volunteer sports ministry

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Christian Hockey Camp Fees: Camp fees cover basic costs like ice-time, lodging, food, transport and insurance. The organization operates camps on break-even budgets to keep fees affordable for families.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a federally registered charitable organization in Canada and the United States with 501(c)(3) status, HMI relies on financial supporters and donors. Donations support the hockey chapel program and camper sponsorship fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hockey Ministries International runs week-long Christian Hockey Camps (overnight and day) for youth ages 9-17 across 7 countries, combining international-level on-ice hockey instruction with Christian living training. The organization also delivers free chapel programs to over 300 teams across 42 leagues during the hockey season, provides the Home Ice online content platform with videos, blogs and devotionals, and operates the Pro-Alumni Group fellowship for former professional players. Revenue is generated through camp fees, donations, and merchandise sales to support its federally registered charity operations in Canada and the US.

Product overview

Hockey Ministries International operates as a faith-based ministry organization offering three interconnected programs: (1) Christian Hockey Camps - week-long overnight and day camps combining international hockey instruction with Christian living training for youth ages 9-17; (2) Hockey Chapels - interactive chapel programs for teams during the hockey season serving 300+ teams across 42 leagues; (3) Home Ice - a content platform with videos, blogs, devotionals, and the Parables video series featuring NHL player testimonies; (4) Pro-Alumni Group - fellowship for former professional players with monthly chapels and discussion groups; (5) Events Program - banquets, conferences, and outreach at hockey events; and (6) Hockey Ministries Store and Resource materials including New Testaments and handbooks. The organization is federally registered as a charitable organization in both Canada and the United States with 501(c)(3) status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HMI Christian Hockey Camps: Week-long overnight and day camps for boys and girls ages 9-17, combining world-class hockey instruction with Christian living training
• Hockey Chapels
• Home Ice

Products and services

• Christian Hockey Camps Week-long overnight and day camps for boys and girls ages 9-17 that combine world-class hockey instruction with training in Christian living and values. Camps are held across 7 countries with international hockey training techniques from Canada, USA, Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Russia, and Switzerland. Approximately 2,000 youth attend annually across 37 camps.
• Hockey Chapels Chapel programs conducted throughout the hockey season for over 300 teams across 42 leagues. These interactive sessions provide players with a message, prayer time, and opportunity to discuss personal matters. Free service provided by volunteer chaplains.
• Home Ice Digital Content Platform Online content platform featuring videos, blogs, devotionals, and hockey tips with NHL player testimonies and faith-based stories. Content is updated regularly throughout the hockey season and available year-round.
• Pro-Alumni Group A fellowship group for former professional hockey players featuring monthly Zoom chapels, bi-weekly discussion groups, testimonies, and panels focused on faith and camaraderie. Operating since April 2020.
• Parables Video Series Six-episode video series exploring biblical parables through the lens of hockey, with discussion guides covering themes including Character, Clean Sheet, Goalkeepers Penalty, Iron Sharpens Iron, Stickhandling, and Foundation.
• Events Program Various events including breakfasts, banquets, tournaments, and conferences featuring professional hockey players and alumni sharing the Christian message. Includes outreach during high-profile events such as the NHL All-Star Game.
• Camper Fund Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program assisting families in need, generally covering up to half of the cost of camp for eligible campers. Campers are generally not permitted to receive sponsorship for two consecutive years.
• Hockey Ministries Store Online merchandise store selling Hockey Ministries branded items, operated through hmi-store.company.site.
• Hockey New Testaments and Christian Resources Free Christian resource materials including Hockey Player's Handbooks and Hockey New Testaments provided to thousands of hockey players.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 75,000 youth have attended camps since 1977
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Maryville University Hockey CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMaryville University Hockey Center serves as the venue for the St. Louis, Missouri camp.
• Ambrose UniversityminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmbrose University serves as the venue for the Calgary, Alberta camp location.
• The Salvation ArmycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Salvation Army is a key venue partner for multiple camp locations including Lake Simcoe (Jackson's Point Camp), San Diego (Salvation Army Kroc Center), Phoenix (Salvation Army Kroc Center), and Coeur d'Alene (Salvation Army Kroc Center). Lake Simcoe camp is operated in co-operation with The Salvation Army.
• Shawnigan Lake SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShawnigan Lake School serves as the venue for the Vancouver Island (Shawnigan Lake), British Columbia camp location.
• The Salvation Army Kroc Center (San Diego)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Salvation Army Kroc Center San Diego partners with HMI for youth hockey camp registration for ages 7-14.
• Ice Den ChandlerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIce Den Chandler serves as a venue partner for the Phoenix, Arizona camp.
• ActiveNetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationActiveNetwork provides the registration platform (campscui.active.com) for HMI Christian Hockey Camps in both USA and Canada. Registration for most camps begins after January 15th through this platform.
• Canadian Council of Christian CharitiesminorOthersHMI is a member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, a professional association for registered Christian charities in Canada.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Athletes in Action: A faith-based sports ministry, affiliated with Cru, that delivers camps, chapels, and outreach to athletes across multiple sports. Closely comparable to HMI in mission (faith + sport), camp-style programming, and donor-supported nonprofit structure.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes: One of the largest faith-based sports organizations in North America, running huddles, camps, and chaplaincy programs for athletes and coaches. Comparable to HMI in combining sport-specific ministry with a chapel/huddle model and donor-supported operations.
• Baseball Chapel: Provides chapel services for professional and amateur baseball teams, paralleling HMI's hockey chapel program. Direct analog in sport-specific chaplaincy ministry with a network of team chaplains and donor-funded operations.
• Sports Spectrum: Christian sports media platform featuring athlete testimonies, podcasts, and devotionals. Comparable to HMI's Home Ice digital platform and content-driven approach to faith-based sports engagement.
• Catholic Athletes for Christ: Faith-based sports apostolate serving athletes and coaches through chaplaincy, retreats, and events. Directly comparable to HMI in offering faith engagement within competitive sports environments.

Emerging players

• Hockey Helps the Homeless: Hockey-themed charitable organization that uses the sport's profile to raise funds for homelessness programs. Adjacent to HMI in using hockey as a platform for charitable outcomes, though focused on fundraising rather than ministry.
• Global Sports Mission: Christian sports outreach organization combining athletic training with faith-based teaching internationally. Comparable to HMI in the sports-plus-faith camp model and international footprint.
• Athletes for Care: Athlete-led nonprofit focused on wellness, mental health, and community service. Thematically adjacent to HMI's emphasis on player well-being beyond on-ice performance.

Broad incumbents

• Youth for Christ: Long-established youth ministry organization running campus clubs, camps, and outreach programs. Comparable to HMI in faith-based youth engagement, though broader in scope beyond hockey.

Others

• The Salvation Army: Major charitable organization that serves as a key venue partner for HMI camps (Kroc Centers, Lake Simcoe). Listed as a foundational peer due to operational partnership and shared faith-based nonprofit identity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_HMI_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HockeyMinistries
• Facebookfacebook.com/HockeyMinistries
• Instagraminstagram.com/hockeyministries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hockey-ministries-international

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hockey Ministries International