Life has been busy!
Going to school in Shaunavon from Kindergarten - Grade 10 and then a private Christian school in Caronport Sask for Grades 11 and 12, J.J.'s schedule was always full; balancing schoolwork, playing hockey, taking piano, guitar, theory and working on the farm. After graduating, he played 3 years of junior hockey in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets and Prince Albert Raiders. Turning pro at 21, J.J. played 5 seasons under contract with the Edmonton Oilers with their farm teams in Columbus Georgia, Hamilton and Toronto Ontario and in Edmonton Alberta. His final year of pro was split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliates. Despite playing NHL preseason games and attending 6 NHL training camps (5 with the Oilers and 1 with the Detroit Red Wings) the final step to becoming an NHL player never materialized.

Through it all, there has been a deeper purpose at work than merely chasing a rubber disc around a sheet of ice, strumming strings on a guitar or even singing notes of a song. The last few years of J.J.'s life has brought change and a new understanding of Gods Word including His purpose and desire for all of us. Growing up in a Christian home, knowing and reading Scripture, attending church and Sunday school and even prayer all are great and important things for us as believers, but unless they are done of the Spirit, out of Faith in the Cross of Christ, they hold no value to God Father because He choose His Son to be the means in which all things are to be found as worthy in His sight (Luke 9:23-27, Galatians 2:20-21, 5:1-6). The Lord has opened many doors of opportunity to grow in Faith upon the finished work of Jesus which far surpass anything this world could ever offer. There have been mistakes and lessons learned all the way along, but praise God we serve a living and risen Lord who continues to guide and direct us every step of the way!

1 Corinthians 1:30