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Rev. Don Richmond- Team Chaplain
‘Pastor Don’ as he is often known around the arena, joined the Warriors organization in the summer of 2006. After graduating from college in 1980, and spending 26 years as a minister in various churches, Don began to have regular chapels with the team in the fall of 2006. Even though the bi-weekly chapels are optional for the players, almost every session is attended by at least 20 players. Besides the biblically faith based chapels, Don often offers advice, spiritual counseling, mentoring and general life choice lessons to many connected within the Warriors family. What the players find is a safe place to have a coffee and talk about the many off ice issues that they face on a regular basis. What often happens is that the chaplaincy carries on into the arena, where fans can find help with personal situations also.
Chaplaincy programs are relatively new in the world of hockey. Don has been involved since 2000, when there was one small chapel started in the league. Since then, there are now 13 chapel programs in the BCHL, and that number continues to grow. Approved by the BCHL Board of Governors in 2005 as the Coordinator of BCHL chaplaincy programs, Don’s desire is to see a chaplain on every team.
One of the goals of chaplaincy is to care for players as they are often away from home, facing life’s distractions and choices in their late teen years. A chaplain on a hockey club is part of the overall team concept that helps make not only great athletes, but great young men.
As a provincially licensed minister, Don has had the privilege of officiating at weddings, funerals and memorials as well. You will find ‘Pastor Don’ at most home games, sometimes singing the National Anthem, often simply circulating in the arena.
