Tyler Hansen, a hockey player for the British Columbia-based Kaloomps Blazers, has likely finished his career in sports. According to Kaloomps This Week, the 20-year-old player has confirmed his decision to leave hockey for a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church.
Hansen stated that he has “pretty much already made up my mind” to serve for the Church. He also acknowledged that “my chances of coming back” to hockey “are slim.” However, Hansen also said that his decision was “about what I think is best for me, realizing there’s more to life than hockey.”
Young men in The Church of Jesus Christ are eligible for Mormon missionary service at age 18. They leave their homes, families, and education behind to become representatives of the Church and spread their beliefs. Missionaries do not get to choose where they go, and the Church sends its missionaries all over the world. Members believe they will benefit in spiritual and other ways by sacrificing educational and athletic opportunities to spread the gospel.
Although Hansen is now 20, he is still eligible to serve for the Church. He told Kaloomps This Week, “I’ve kind of put it off for two years,” but that “there’s no guilt [from not having gone already].”
Hansen acknowledged that the Blazers’ final game of the season on Friday, April 26th “could have been the last time I wore that Blazers jersey,” but also stated that he feels ready to go on an LDS mission. Hansen has been playing for the Blazers for four years since he was drafted by the team in 2008. In that time, he has played 254 regular-season games, “amassing seven goals, 64 points and 257 penalty minutes,” according to Kaloomps This Week. [1]