Each week Hockey Ministries International will salute a Chaplain of the Week" in order to acknowledge our chaplains who volunteer their time and resources to serve the hockey world. Currently HMI has over 225 volunteer chaplains who are staging chapel programs in 25 professional and amateur leagues across North America and Europe.

Rick Mitera is the chaplain for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League. He has served as chaplain for the Wolf Pack for the past 11 seasons. Mitera has faithfully ministered to numerous players on the Wolf Pack over the years, and has developed a special relationship with former Hartford player, Richard Scott, and former Wolf Pack Head Coach, John Paddock.

Rick has recently joined the full time staff of Hockey Ministries International, and will be directing the ministry's efforts in the Northeast USA as well helping to pioneer the chapel program in the American Hockey League.

Over the past eleven years, Rick has rejoiced over seeing numerous players transformed into new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17 - " Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.")

Mitera's favorite verses of the Bible are Proverbs 3:5 & 6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart,And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight."

Rick is married to wife, Dawn, and has three children (Derek 24, Chadd 21, Hillary 18) and a grandson Alerek 4. The Mitera's attend Wellspring Church in Kensington Connecticut.

"It has been a total blessing to be involved with HMI for 12 years," says Mitera. "It's also really great to be doing something that I love to do, and to be called by God to do."

Hockey Ministries International does have some current openings for chaplains in certain cities, towns and communities. If you are interested in serving as an HMI chaplain or know someone who would be interested, please e-mail Don Liesemer Jr. at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Let us know where you live, and we will let you know if we have a need in your area.