Liberty senior defenseman Connor Diem celebrates a goal against the FCAA All-Stars along with senior forward Ryan Fince (left), who scored the last goal in a 6-5 setback. (Photos by Emma Bladen)
DI Flames split last two games in Finland, celebrate four players' baptisms
1/11/2026 7:55:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
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Liberty Hockey continues to strengthen spiritual bonds through ministry opportunities and competition against collegiate teams on its third trip to the community of Hämeenlinna since 2020.
Four members of Liberty University's ACHA Division I men's hockey team were baptized by Pastor Dave Pike during Sunday morning's service at Hämeenlinna Internation Christian Fellowship (ICF) and Freechurch, a highlight of the team's third trip to Finland since 2020, coordinated by LU Send in conjunction with Kingdom Sports Hämpton.
"That's a huge reason why we're here, the impact that (the outreach) can have within the guys on the team," Flames Head Coach Kirk Handy said, noting Assistant Coach Ben Hughes delivered the message and head captain Sam Feamster shared his testimony along with fellow senior forward Michael DeBrito, junior goalie Konrad Kausch, and sophomore forwards Tucker Shields and Kal Essenmacher. "Each one of the guys who were baptized shared their testimony in front of the whole church. It was extremely powerful."
"It was a privilege to hear their testimonies," Pike added. "All four of them were Christ-centered and Gospel-focused, and they were a wonderful inspiration to our church body."
He noted Hughes' sermon from 1 Samuel also resonated with the congregation and was perfectly appropriate for the team as well.
"Ben was encouraging us from God's Word, talking about stepping into the unknown and how that might be different for each of us," Pike said, noting he addressed Saul's anointing as the king of Israel. "It was a wonderful time of God investing in us and using God's word to build us up."
He said the team has had a similar influence on the community where they are serving with their youthful exuberance and hunger for spiritual growth while sharing the light of Christ.
"They've all been really amazing," Pike said. "They have great attitudes, and it's been really great how the guys have stepped in and engaged with the people they've met. They have overcome language barriers and cross-cultural differences. The kids have loved the players, and the players have been so enthusiastic in engaging in different programs and playing different opponents. They have had meals together with the two teams afterwards, chatting and sharing about what it's like to study here in Finland and to play hockey in America. The sharing and fellowship have been great."
Flames sophomore Mac Ratzlaff prays with the FCAA All-Stars captain.
Originally from England, Pike has developed a strong relationship with Handy, a Canada native, that has opened doors for ministry as well as friendly competition throughout the southern region of Finland — between Tampere and Helsinki where they will fly out of on Tuesday.
"I have a great friendship with Kirk, and it has been wonderful," Pike said. "He has a big heart for Hämeenlinna and the people of Finland and a big heart for the players on his team. These trips are wonderful opportunities for the people of Hämeenlinna to be invested in and for these players to use their gifts as Champions for Christ to be His ambassadors. This is the fourth trip (the Lady Flames' DI team went in 2024), and God willing, it's going to continue."
Liberty's DI women's hockey team will return to Finland next January and the Flames' DI squad is planning a fourth trip for January 2028.
For five players on this year's team, this was their second experience in Finland. Feamster, senior goalie Nick Bernstein, junior defenseman Nick Pomerleau, and senior forward Ryan Finch traveled with the team in 2023. Essenmacher joined a group from Liberty's disc golf team that he is also a member of this past summer to help run the PDGA World Championships held in Tampere for the first time.
"It's been awesome having all of them here," Pike said. "The guys who have returned, including Kal (Essenmacher), have been able to continue to build on the foundation of previous trips, and the new guys have grasped the opportunity to experience something different and to bring what they have to offer."
Liberty has played its share of hockey over the past week, defeating the HPK Ice Dogs on Wednesday before splitting games against collegiate teams this weekend.
In Saturday's game against FCAA All-Stars, the Flames opened a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal by DeBrito assisted by freshman forward Bronson Hunt, one of three spring semester recruits, and went up 2-1 on a score by Feamster assisted by sophomore forward Mac Ratzlaff.
Finland's collegiate All-Stars netted the equalizer on two scores through the slot that beat Kausch, the second as he sprawled on his back after being knocked down on the blue ice.
The FCAA All-Stars seized their first lead in the second period, when they outscored the Flames 3-1, with Hunt netting his first goal for the Flames to keep them within 5-3. Liberty trimmed the deficit to 5-4 and 6-5 on goals by senior defenseman Connor Diem less than five minutes into the third period and senior forward Ryan Finch with two minutes remaining in regulation.
"The FCAA All-Stars were a very strong team," Handy said. "Every guy on that team had played professional hockey in Finland (before going to college). We played fairly well, and our whole roster played." The Flames pray with the FCAA All-Stars, made up of former professional players now competing for collegiate programs around Finland.
Then on Sunday, the Flames doubled up Nädäät, a team from Aalto University, winning 10-5 at Metro Arena in Espoo, a beautiful rink that holds close to 8,000.
"We had contributions up and down the lineup," Handy said, noting Feamster and Essenmacher both scored twice in the first period off multiple assists from Ratzlaff after Shields started the scoring for Liberty. "Ratzlaff played really well, and he and his line were definitely catalysts for us this game."
