Dion Knelsen - From Professional Hockey to Small-Town Purpose
- Author
- The Gospel In The Game
- Published
- Fri 18 Jul 2025
- Episode Link
- None
What happens when a professional hockey player at the peak of his career walks away to prioritize faith, family and community? Dion Knelsen's journey from European hockey leagues to coaching in remote northern Alberta reveals powerful truths about purpose and priorities.
Having played 12 years professionally across Norway, Sweden and Switzerland, Dion was actually playing some of his best hockey at age 32 when he made the difficult decision to return to Canada. The COVID pandemic had created space for reflection, and both he and his wife recognized their children deserved stability, extended family connections, and a faith-centered community.
Their search led them to La Crete, Alberta — a town where "they measure the population by church sizes" and traditional values remain firmly intact. With refreshing candor, Dion shares how this remote community (five hours from the nearest shopping mall) provided exactly what his family needed, even as he transitioned to coaching a startup Junior B hockey team.
The La Crete Lumber Barons' story is remarkable. Despite fielding players with less formal training than competitors, they reached provincial finals in just their second season. Games regularly draw over 1,000 fans in a small northern town, creating an atmosphere many professional teams would envy. Dion describes the players' "pond hockey" creativity and how community support transformed this expansion team into provincial contenders.
Throughout the conversation, Dion's transparency about faith stands out. He acknowledges the ebbs and flows of his spiritual journey, moments he falls short as a coach, and the ongoing challenge of surrendering control. His simple yet profound statement — "God has never screwed me over" — captures a hard-earned trust built through years of uncertainty in professional sports.
Whether you're contemplating a major life transition, interested in hockey culture, or simply seeking an authentic story of faith lived out, Dion's journey offers valuable insight into choosing what truly matters. Listen now and consider what might happen when we trust God's plans over our own.
