“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
-Jeremiah 29:11
With the 26th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft, the St. Louis Blues selected Tage Thompson, the son of a hockey coach. For as long as he can remember, Thompson loved the game of hockey. His gifts were evident from the beginning, making his hockey talent nearly impossible to miss. He became one of the most coveted young players, and after playing collegiate and AHL hockey, Thompson made his debut, guided by faith.
For Tage Thompson, faith has always been an important part of his life. Born in Glendale, Arizona, his parents emphasized making faith a priority.

Although COVID-19 put the season on hold earlier in the year, Thompson says he took the new free time on his hands to grow. “The big takeaway I think for me is that there’s always something positive that comes from a negative situation. The negative situation being the virus and postponement of the NHL season and me being injured during this time. When it first happens our initial reaction is to get mad, upset, and ask God why. But He has a plan and his timing is perfect. And because of all the things that have happened I’ve been able to train hard and work on my strength and I’ve gained 15 pounds of muscle and feel in the best shape of my life. And I believe that for me that is the positive that has come out of this situation.” With the Sabers not making it as one of the teams to play in the bubble to end the season, Thompson waits for the beginning of next hockey season and the opportunity to come back stronger and become a force for his team.
Thompson says that throughout his young career, he has made trusting God and his timing a priority. His favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.’” Thompson says this verse reminds him to stay focused and trust that God is in control. “For me it all goes back to trusting God’s plan and timing. And just being patient. We live in a busy world where we want things to happen for us immediately, and when things go array we panic, stress, and worry and that’s when you need to give it all to God and it’s a weight off your shoulders and you can just be happy and enjoy everything Gods given you. That’s why I love this verse.”
As the NHL readies for the upcoming season, Thompson is reminded that although things may not go according to plan, God is in control. He is anxiously waiting for the opportunity to take every chance he gets to shine on the ice, and to glorify God and inspire others off the ice.