SPORTS SCENE
STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
JOURNEYMAN NETMINDER BUDAJ CONTINUES TO FIND THE RIGHT TRACK BY CARTER BROOKS
L
ife as a goaltender may not seem like much fun. No matter the sport, the netminder’s job is to put himself in front of flying objects, and prepare to stop them with whatever means necessary. In hockey, a one-inch by threeinch, black rubber disc that travels upwards of 100 miles per hour is the object of focus for goaltenders across the National Hockey League. For Los Angeles Kings’ goalie, Peter Budaj, his job consists of far more than shielding the 24 square foot net on his end of the ice surface. Although stopping rubber is how he earns his paycheques, for Budaj—a devout Christian—goaltending is just a minor part of his life. “When I was 16, I came to Canada from Slovakia to play junior hockey in the OHL [Ontario Hockey League] in Toronto, and I was on
Photos courtesy of Will Borys
30 SEVEN JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
my own,” Budaj says. “But because of my upbringing I continued to read my Bible, and stayed involved at my private Catholic school. Being raised as a Christian, my parents made sure to lead me in the direction of Jesus, but parents can only show you so much. Once you become a young adult, it becomes your choice. But I am so glad I have a personal relationship with Jesus.” By no means was Budaj’s journey to the NHL an easy undertaking— physically, emotionally or geographically. According to Budaj, once all travel, layovers and airport tasks are complete, his hometown, Banska Bystrica, of the former Czechoslovakia, is approximately 24 hours away from his North American home. It is fair to say that he doesn’t get home too often. “Before I met my wife I used to go back home in the off-season for the summer every year,” he says. “But right now I have a family—two healthy boys—and have a nice place here in the States. I try to bring my parents every year at least for a month or so. We went as a family to Slovakia once, and are hoping to go again soon. Obviously I would like my parents to see the kids more, but they are getting up there in age too, so the travel is not as easy for them.” As a 34-year-old professional hockey player, Budaj has a wealth
