Matthew Allen is a 28-year-old hockey player and Toronto Maple Leafs fan. He’s a volunteer, a good friend, a team player and is often the face behind The Salvation Army’s mascot, Shieldy. On Sundays, he can be found at the Army’s Agincourt Temple Community Church in Toronto, greeting people as they come in the door and collecting the offering. On Saturdays, he’s on the ice.

Though Matthew has an intellectual disability, that isn’t what defines him. Instead, his life is defined by his faith and the pursuit of being like Jesus in all that he does.

“I am made perfect in God’s image and I trust in His plan always,” says Matthew.

A Place of Belonging

Matthew’s passion for hockey started at an early age when he joined a pond hockey league run by The Salvation Army Kitchener Community Church in Ontario and coached by his father, Captain Scott Allen. He played in the league from 2004 until 2011, when he aged out.

“The pond hockey league opened me up to a lot of faith,” says Matthew. Each practice began with drills before the team would break for a devotional, talking and learning about the Bible. Then it ended with a scrimmage.

“Those lessons have stuck with me,” he says.

As a child of Salvation Army pastors, his family moved around a lot, from Winnipeg to Parry Sound, Ont., to Toronto. 

There, Matthew hoped to find a team where he could belong. He did some research on the internet and found the Donaldson’s Diamonds Hockey Club, a hockey program for people with special needs in the Greater Toronto Area, where all are welcome between the ages of five and 65.

“It’s for people with intellectual disabilities to have fun, create friendships and have lots of physical activity,” says Matthew.

When he first joined the Donaldson’s Diamonds in 2023, Matthew was shy, but he knew that God was with him.

“My dad and I prayed before going into the arena that first day,” says Matthew. “From that day on, I have made many friends.”

“My faith and relationship withGod comes before hockey.” - Matthew Allen

Like a Diamond

The Donaldson’s Diamonds slogan is “Shine on like a diamond.”

“To me, that means that all hockey players are precious gems no matter their skill, who try their best at everything that they do,” says Matthew.

It also means being a team player and supporting others. There are varying levels of disability on the Donaldson’s Diamonds and, for Matthew, it is important that every teammate feels valued and celebrated. One of Matthew’s favourite ways to support is to pass the puck to teammates waiting by the opposing team’s net so they have a chance to score.

“This makes going to the hockey arena worthwhile,” he says.

Setting an Example

For Matthew, shining bright like a diamond also means shining the light of Jesus Christ both on and off the ice. Matthew plays hockey with integrity, but he also shares the love of Jesus whenever and wherever he can. He asks teammates if they need prayer and often sends them encouraging messages on Facebook.

“As Christians, the light of Jesus that shines in us and through us must be shared,” Matthew says. “We can’t keep that light to ourselves. I continually check myself to make sure that others can see that light through me.”

Matthew’s parents, Captains Cathy and Scott Allen, are proud that their son has grown in his faith and follows Jesus. Even though they are Salvation Army pastors, they find Matthew often sets an example for them.

“We see him on the hockey team praying for his teammates,” says Captain Scott. “He really shines the light of Jesus wherever he goes.”

A Serving Heart

“My faith and relationship with God come before hockey,” says Matthew, who seeks opportunities to serve others in his church and community. 

He volunteers in various capacities, including at The Salvation Army’s food bank and distribution centre. For the last five Christmases, he has been the face behind Shieldy and has even participated in many Toy Mountain events broadcasted on CTV News.

Matthew’s parents, who are now serving in St. Thomas, Ont., have helped give him every available opportunity to get involved, from taking up the offering to standing as a greeter at the front door of the church. “As parents and church leaders, it’s important to advocate for people who have disabilities, and give them opportunities so that they can blossom and come out of their shell,” says Captain Cathy.

“In the past five years, I have learned a lot about volunteering, especially during the pandemic where my routine never stopped. I just kept going,” says Matthew. “I felt like I needed to be there, because who else is going to do the job when you’re in such a dark time?”

In His Image

Matthew is not afraid of telling anybody that he loves Jesus.

He often relates hockey to Scripture, and one verse that he leans on is Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“I am grateful that I can live my life in a way that reflects my faith both on and off the ice,” he says.

This story is from:

New boost