TORONTO - Christmas is often a busy, stressful time, especially for hockey players who have to balance family and professional obligations.But for James Reimer and David Booth of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Christmas brings perspective and an opportunity to reflect and appreciate on how fortunate they are to play professional hockey while observing their faith.Whether youre a carpenter, or a plumber, a hockey player or an airline pilot, your lifes going to get crazy no matter what, said Reimer, while still in his goalie pads after practice on Friday. Things are going to happen and stuff. When you have something like Christ to lean on, it just adds a peace that surpasses all understanding.Its such a gift to be able to have that perspective, especially when things are going rough.Although the NHLs collective bargaining agreement guarantees that players get Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day off, theres still a lot of travel over the holidays for hockey teams. The Maple Leafs, for example, played in Chicago on Sunday, played in Dallas on Tuesday night and will continue a seven-game road trip in Florida on Dec. 28.The American Hockey League has an even tighter holiday window, with a full slate of games scheduled for Dec. 26. Major junior hockey players have 10 days off, but the worlds top prospects will be busy when the world junior championship begins in Toronto and Montreal on Boxing Day.That travel schedule can be daunting for some, but Booth doesnt mind.I think theres always time to get in to the Bible, said the Maple Leafs left-winger. I think thats the biggest thing when youre on the road, is having your quiet time, being able to sit down, to read, to reflect, to pray. Those are things that you can do anywhere and I think thats one of the beautiful things about our job: the ability that we have to continue to worship while on the road.Laurie Boschman understands the challenges facing Christian hockey players. He was an NHLer for 14 years and has worked with Hockey Ministries International for 21 years, helping the faith-based Christian organization in its many camps and chapel programs.Based in Ottawa, Boschman leads players from the Senators in regular chapel programs and also helps co-ordinate chapel programs around the NHL.In his view, many players find themselves dissatisfied with their lives despite the money and prestige that comes with the NHL lifestyle. They may also be bothered by issues outside of the arena like relationship problems or the failing health of loved ones.For example, since were talking here before Christmas, we can talk about what the Bible says about the holiday, said Boschman in a phone interview with The Canadian Press. Is it about presents? Is it about something more than that? And if it is, does the Bible address that? Players are interested in that because I think sometimes theres a perspective that players have about faith and its not based in fact.Its based in I thought it was this, or I thought it was that. We get to point them to the Scriptures and say This is what the Bible teaches and this is what its about.Booth agrees with Boschman that chapel gives players a chance to realize that theyre more than just their profession.I think when you get away from defining yourself by a sport it opens up your ability to make an impact away from the rink or have a greater purpose in life, said Booth. I dont think were put on this Earth just to play a sport. I think this sport is giving me such a huge advantage to reach the community, a platform to share things that matter.Were given so much. People look at us, wow the coolest job and it is a cool job and a great salary that comes with it. But those things all fade. Those things never satisfy.Theres no lack of demand for HMIs chapel programs. The non-denominational ministry works with more than 270 teams in over 30 leagues to provide chapel and counselling services for hockey players, coaches and other support staff. HMI also has hockey camps for children in Canada, the United States, Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.Both Reimer and Booth point to regular chapel services as a resource that helps them bring balance to their lives on and off the ice.Obviously, being on the road and sometimes playing on Sundays or practising on Sundays, you dont get to go to church very often, said Reimer. Maybe once a month, if youre lucky. So to have that chapel — usually its once every two weeks, something you can go to with a couple of your teammates and the chaplain, just make sure youre staying focused and your eyes are on the right prize — its good to have that because it helps to keep you calm.Booth also feels that attending chapel and being a devout Christian helps him relate to his teammates, especially those who dont share his faith, because it fosters a sense of respect and tolerance in the locker-room.Love your teammates even though you guys share different beliefs, said Booth. You guys might have different lifestyles. You might not agree with everything they do but you always respect them, you love them, you get along with them, youre a good teammate. You do things with them. The biggest thing is not to judge. Theyre accepting of my beliefs and I accept their beliefs.I think thats where tolerance comes in and thats what makes humanity function: being able to tolerate other people with so many differences amongst us. Marouane Fellaini Jersey . According to USA Today the Finns have tapped forwards Jarkko Immonen and Sakari Salminen to replace injured forwards Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula at the Sochi Games. Manchester United Jerseys . Among the teams moves was trading one of the teams two third round picks, no. 83 overall, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brandon Bollig, a six-foot-two, 223-pound left-winger who had seven goals, seven assists, and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games last season. http://www.manunitedfcpro.com/Kids-Joel-Castro-Pereira-Jersey/. -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after having an operation on a groin muscle. Scott McTominay Jersey . But defending champion Elena Vesnina of Russia held off a strong challenge to beat Shuai Peng of China 6-3, 6-4, and there was another hard-fought victory for 2012 runner-up Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Alison Riske of the United States 7-6 (6), 6-4. Sergio Romero Jersey . The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header.CALGARY - New Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving has the highest draft pick in team history to work with Friday in Philadelphia. At No. 4, it will be the earliest Calgary calls out the name of their first selection in their 33 years, unless Treliving trades the pick of course. "Yeah, theres scenarios. Were not there yet," he said Monday in Calgary. "A lot of those scenarios of move ups and move downs, it really doesnt happen until the draft floor or shortly before. The biggest thing is bracing for all the different scenarios. If we pick four, were happy there too. This isnt something where we feel we have to move from four. "Theres a lot of pain to get a top-five pick. So all of a sudden to say were going to do something else, it would have to be significant." The Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary in 1980. For trivia lovers, the Atlanta Flames highest draft picks were Tom Lysiak second overall in 1973 and Jacques Richard also at No. 2 in 1972. Treliving was named Calgarys new GM in April after he spent seven years as an assistant GM of the Phoenix Coyotes. He and the Flames scouting staff head Tuesday to Philadelphia for the 2014 NHL entry draft at Wells Fargo Center. The first round is Friday followed by the remaining six rounds Saturday. Of the five seasons Calgary hasnt made the playoffs, the first four were considered underachievements. The most recent was accepted by fans as an overdue rebuilding year. At 35-40-7, the Flames finished second-last in the Western Conference. But patience in professional sports is generally short. With the draft quickly followed by the start of unrestricted free agency July 1, and the Flames holding a boatload of cap space, Trelivings opening moves with the Flames will be scrutinized. "Although theres a lot of excitement around the draft and obviously July first, those arent the only two days to build your team," Treliving said. "This is just the start of it. I wouldnt categorize it as putting my stamp on it. "Im excited about now is the time we can be aggressive and be creative to get better. This is all about getting better. It starts with the draft and the picks we can make and well see what other things we can do both around the draft and leading into free agency." Calgary hit it out of the park choosing forward Sean Monahan at No. 6 last year when Jay Feaster was GM. As a 19-year-old rookie, Monahan scored 22 goals and was a regular in the lineup. Treliving says that was a surprise. While he expects names called early Friday to be in the NHL next season, hes not relying on it in Calgarys case. "Our focus isnt getting somebody who is going to jump in in October," he said. "t;Thats not a priority.dddddddddddd If it happens, great. Ours is who is going to be the best player for the next 10 Octobers." The consensus top prospects are Barrie Colts defenceman Aaron Eckblad, Kingston Frontenacs forward Sam Bennett, Kootenay Ice captain Sam Reinhart, Prince Albert Raiders centre Leon Draisaitl, Oshawa Generals left-winger Michael Dal Colle and Finnish left-winger Kasperi Kapanen. Reinhart has family ties to the Flames as father Paul was a defenceman with the club for most of his career and brother Max is a Flames prospect. "Weve spent a lot of time in the last several weeks with a number of the young men," Treliving said. "Weve poked, weve prodded. "I feel comfortable with the homework thats been done. Youre dealing with 17- and 18-year-old young men. As much work as you put into it, there is some risk always." The Flames currently own five picks in the first three rounds, including the 34th, 54th, 64th and 83rd choices. Calgary doesnt have any in the fourth or fifth and has one each of the sixth and the seventh rounds. Hockey operations president Brian Burke served as interim GM after firing Feaster in December. Burke acquired another second-round pick (54th) from Colorado for goaltender Reto Berra as well as an extra third-rounder (83rd) from Pittsburgh for Lee Stempniak in March. Treliving is grateful for the additional second-rounder. He can either get a quality player with it, add it to a package deal to move around the draft order or even acquire an NHL player straight up for it. "Second-round picks are the currency now and its hard to get them," Treliving explained. "Each day you get closer to the draft, the currency raises in terms of what those are worth. Its not just a second-round pick. It has a name now. Youve done your work. Not only are you picking 38th or 46th, but youre picking Jones or Smith or whatever the name is thats around there." The 2014-15 salary cap is projected to be around $71 million with a minimum of about $52 million. The Flames are buyers as theyre currently under the cap floor, according to Capgeek.com. Calgary needs reinforcements at centre and Treliving is also on the lookout for a defenceman with a right-handed shot. The GM said "talks continue" with pending unrestricted free agent Mike Cammalleri, but Treliving didnt have any signings to report Monday. Treliving also announced that Ryan Huska is new head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate in Glens Falls, N.Y. Huska was head coach of the WHLs Kelowna Rockets for the last seven seasons. Calgary is also searching for a new goaltending coach with the departure of Clint Malarchuk. 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