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The "Frozen Tundra" is more than a hockey rink for some members of the Huntington Blizzard—it's a mission field.

The Tundra (known officially as the Huntington Civic Arena) is home to the Blizzard, a member of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and an affiliate of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and its American Hockey League team, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

The Blizzard is unusual in that it has as many as a half-dozen players who are willing to say they have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Besides the players, the head coach is a Christian, as is the team's play-by-play radio announcer.

Butch and Karson Kaebel, who joined the team for the 1998-99 season, are biological and spiritual brothers who have been working hard to spread the gospel of Christ to their teammates.

The team's coach, Ray Edwards, was one of the first people the two brothers helped to show the way. At 28, Edwards is the youngest head coach in the ECHL and has been with the Blizzard organization for 3 years. He admits that before the Kaebel brothers showed up, he was lacking one thing—peace.

"I started talking to Butch, and he just put things in perspective for me," he says. "I had a lot of things that were unresolved, and Butch took the time and explained things to me. I put Christ first in my life."

Butch Kaebel, 32, gave his life to the Lord with the help of Mark Bassen, whose brother Bob plays in the NHL for the Calgary Flames.

Butch's brother Karson, 25, became a Christian through the efforts of Hockey Ministries International (HMI)—a group that sponsors hockey camps all over the world to minister to athletes. Both brothers are heavily involved in HMI during the offseason.

Butch heads up chapel for the Blizzard, which is regularly held once a week. Dave Allen, the team's radio announcer and director of media relations, also attends chapel.

"Butch presents the gospel every chance he can," Dave says. "But Karson is very bold and won't back down from anyone." Butch even uses his hockey stick to witness by displaying the words "Jesus is Lord" on its neck. He also wears the number 33, which stands for John 3:3, his favorite Bible verse.

"This may be my only chance to witness to someone," Butch says. "I have to take every opportunity I can to present Christ."

Karson makes it a top priority to help others. "I've been in the place where I was hurting," he says. "I needed someone to help me, and I want to do the same thing for others, because this life is short."

The Kaebel brothers are proving that living the Christian life is possible even when playing a body-banging sport like hockey.

"Jesus was the toughest guy who ever lived," Butch says. "For years, Christians have been portrayed as nerds, and that's just not the case. We are living testimonies to that."

Together, the two are praying for others in their league to turn to Christ.

On the average, the players estimate, there are fewer than two Christians per hockey team. Here are four other Blizzard players who have put their faith in Jesus Christ:

» Jan Slavik, 23, is from the Czech Republic. He is in his second season with the Blizzard and is thrilled that he is no longer the team's lone Christian. "It just makes life so much easier when you have Christian teammates to turn to," he says. "Sometimes you just feel alone, and that's not the case anymore."

» Robbie Stanfield, 20, is from Ontario and in his first year as a professional hockey player. He said playing on a team with so many fellow Christians creates a positive atmosphere. "It just helps keep you focused."

» Kevin Paden, 23, is from Woodhaven, Michigan, and has played professional hockey for 4 years. He said he will not back away from his faith, but he does not "try to push it down anyone's throat."

"If they ask me, I tell them," he says. "Some people ignore it, and some accept it. For the most part, the other teammates respect us [the Christians], as we do them."

» Bill Baaki, 23, is from Detroit, and he said he has been helped spiritually by the Kaebel brothers. "Butch and Karson wear the Lord on their sleeves," he says. "There is a certain team spirit around when you can hold hands with your teammates and pray—there's a bond there."

That bond creates team unity and a sense of curiosity for others. "The backhanded comments are not there by our teammates," Baaki says. "And that means a lot. There's a great deal of respect for each other on this team."

Dave Allen does the little things to get the word out. He writes the player profiles and conducts interviews of players on local radio.

"I get the message out through the media," he says. "I don't offend anyone, but I will give a player a platform. I feel strongly that I was brought to this team for a reason."

Butch feels that each person on the team is equally important. "We have a very good team here, and I think that each player knows that. I respect my teammates, and I think they respect me and what I'm trying to do," he says.

And what Butch and Karson are trying to do is present the plan of salvation while making a living on the ice. But they know it doesn't stop there.

"Playing hockey is what I get paid to do," Karson says, acknowledging that he must perform well if he is to get any respect. "But the real reason I'm here is to be a witness and minister of the gospel. Life is too short to just let it go by."

Del Duduit is a freelance writer who lives in Wheelersburg, Ohio.

This article appeared in the April 1999 edition of Sports Spectrum magazine.