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Predator Pursues More Than The Cup continued
Many have followed a long arduous journey, with everything from highways to dead ends along the way. Just ask Dan Ellis, the No. 1 goaltender for the Nashville Predators. “Making it to the NHL was a long road for me. In fact, getting into college was a long haul,” he writes in a recent blog on the Predators’ website. Ellis spent four years in junior hockey, hoping to earn a college scholarship. Three years of college hockey followed at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, but still no shot at the NHL. Then, in 2004, Ellis thought he was on his way when he was drafted by the Dallas Stars. But that led to four years of traveling the minor leagues and just one NHL game with the Stars. In 2007, at 27, Ellis signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators and made the team out of training camp.
Nonetheless, Ellis’ outstanding performance prompted the team to trade former starter Chris Mason to St. Louis, prior to the NHL draft, in effect giving Ellis the starting position outright. After he led the NHL in save percentage (.924) last season, earning the Roger Crozier Saving Grace award, the Preds inked Ellis to a new two-year deal. As it turns out, that phrase “saving grace” holds more than one level of meaning for the goaltender who, early on in his journey, discovered a greater purpose for his life than that of reaching the NHL. Although born in Saskatoon, Ellis actually grew up in Orangeville, Ont., not far from Toronto. Both of his parents played a role in developing his love of hockey. “My Dad would build rinks in the backyard and play (hockey) with us in the basement,” describes Ellis. Then, when he was 10 years old, his parents divorced and he and his older brother Mike continued to live with their mother. “Driving to the games and practicing fell more so into my Mom’s lap. Hockey pretty much set our schedule and we worked everything else around it.” Hockey continued to be a major focus for his life, but Ellis also admits to testing the waters as a teenager. “I was hanging around with the wrong crowd and doing some things that were not to my benefit,” he says. Then at 16, Ellis enrolled in a hockey school which was run by Teen Ranch, a Christian-based camp in Ontario. “I saw the other pro hockey players and the way they were living (and) I became very curious.” Ellis describes his upbringing as “ethical,” and says his parents, “… did a great job teaching me right and wrong.” But he admits that it wasn’t until attending the hockey school at Teen Ranch that he came to understand the Biblical truth about Jesus Christ. That is, through His death and resurrection, He offered forgiveness for Ellis’ sins and the gift of eternal life. Ellis accepted God’s Son, and as a result, learned of “saving grace” long before capturing the Roger Crozier award. “It was at the camp that I really came to an intimate relationship with God,” he tells Living Light News. After trusting Jesus as his Saviour, Ellis began to apply himself to learning all he could about his new faith. “I was searching the Bible for verses which related to sports, like how to persevere, to work hard, to listen to authorities, etc. After hours and days of searching, I was amazed at how many verses pertain to the sports and practical living,” says Ellis. “I began to follow the wisdom of the Bible in my approach to hockey both on and off the ice,” he explained. And it became an anchor for every area of his life. “My faith is the only thing that enabled me to get through the tough time,” confirms Ellis. “It gave me hope and purpose ... you learn to have a faith-based attitude. And you walk in the comfort of knowing that your Heavenly Father has your greater good in mind.” Now, with a career-changing NHL season in the books and heading into all the uncertainty that a new season brings, Ellis continues to apply the tools that have helped him on his long journey: his skills as a goaltender, and his faith in Christ, which he continues to develop through prayer and study, attending team chapels, and maintaining strong connections with spiritual mentors in his life. Perhaps the most outward statement that his faith plays in his life and in his game can be seen when Ellis stands in the net. What matters to him most is proudly displayed on the back of his mask. “The cross symbolizes my faith in Christ,” he says, “And the verse below it, Proverbs 16:3, reminds me that as I commit my life and hockey to Him, that I will always succeed.” In fact, for Ellis, this verse applies to every aspect of his life. “Whether you are committing to a game, parenthood (in August he and his wife Katy celebrated the birth of their son Kaden), being a good spouse ... As we commit ourselves to God, we are gaining a teammate for every battle. “And what better teammate to have than Christ?” photos courtesy Nashville Predators
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“After waiting so long to finally get to the NHL ... hearing the words ‘We’re going to keep you’ was a tremendous feeling and just an unbelievable experience,” he says. Compared with his long journey to reach hockey’s highest level, Ellis’ trip to the front of the NHL goaltending line took but a season. Part of a threesome of Predator goalies, Ellis’ impressive play earned him 44 regular season games in 2007-08 and the right to lead his underdog team into the playoffs. Nashville was eliminated in six games against Detroit, the eventual Stanley Cup winner.
