WEAPONIZE.
PREPARE.
ROOTED.

Strapped started in 2019 when my cousin and I ran the Twin Cities Marathon wearing 20-pound weight vests. We called it “Strapped” because we were literally strapping on the weight, and we built it around a simple mindset — Never Die Easy. Don’t quit. Keep going. We made a few shirts, sold them around the race, and donated everything to a military charity. That was the beginning.

Then it sat quiet.

In the fall of 2024, everything changed. My son was in a UTV accident at our family farm and was facing the possibility of losing his leg below the knee. What followed was something I can only describe as the grace and healing power of Jesus Christ. Instead of losing his leg, he lost two toes. Today, he’s back — living life, playing hockey, and doing what he loves. It was a miracle. While we were in the hospital, someone saw the Strapped shirt I was wearing and told me how much they loved the message — don’t quit, keep fighting. That moment stuck with me. I went back to the room and started digging deeper into what “Strapped” really meant.

What I found changed everything.

Strapped carries multiple meanings — and every one of them pointed me back to my walk with Jesus. Lacking. Weaponized. Equipped and Prepared. Rooted and Secured. It became clear that this wasn’t just a name — it was a process. A reflection of the journey we are all on.
We all start lacking. We fall short. We carry sin. That’s where it begins.

We become weaponized through the Word of God — the Sword of the Spirit — the only truth that holds up against the world.

We get equipped and prepared through prayer, discipline, and brotherhood — walking alongside other men who are pursuing Jesus and holding each other accountable.
And over time, we become rooted in Christ and secured in the promise of eternity with Him.

This is not a one-time decision. This is a lifelong pursuit.

Strapped is no longer just a name or a moment. It’s a mission. A brotherhood being built within the hockey community — bringing together players, coaches, and men who are done doing life alone and ready to pursue Jesus together.

This is not about having it all figured out. It’s about showing up, being real, and walking this out side by side — no judgment, no pretending, just men in the fight together with Christ at the center.

This is what we all need, and this ministry is here to serve the hockey brotherhood with Jesus as the captain.

JAKE’S STORY

Strapped became something real in 2019 when my cousin and I ran the Twin Cities Marathon wearing 20-pound weight vests. We called it Strapped because we were literally strapping on the weight, and we built it around a simple mindset — Never Die Easy. Don’t quit. Keep going. We made some shirts, sold them around the race, and gave everything to a military charity.

At the time, it was just something we did. I didn’t fully understand what it would become. My life has always been built around hockey. The game shaped me — the discipline, the grind, the brotherhood, the lessons you only learn by being in it with other guys. I’ve lived it as a player, a coach, and now as a father. Hockey has always been more than a game to me. It’s where I learned how to show up, how to compete, and how to be part of something bigger than myself.

But life doesn’t stay on the surface. In the fall of 2024, my son was in a UTV accident at our family farm. He was facing the possibility of losing his leg below the knee. What followed was something I can only describe as the grace and power of Jesus Christ. Instead of losing his leg, he lost two toes. Today, he’s back — living life, playing hockey, and doing what he loves. It was a miracle. In the middle of that, someone commented on the Strapped shirt I was wearing and said they loved the message — don’t quit, keep fighting. It hit me differently this time. I went back to the room and started digging into what “Strapped” really meant. What I found wasn’t just a definition. It was a reflection of my walk with Jesus. I am lacking. I fall short. I deal with sin, pride, and things I don’t always get right. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is where I turn.

I’ve learned that the only way forward is to be grounded in the Word of God — the Sword of the Spirit — the only truth that doesn’t move. I’ve learned that I need brotherhood, accountability, and other men in my life who are pursuing Jesus and willing to walk through the hard stuff together. I’ve learned that this life is not about having it figured out, it’s about showing up daily, surrendering, and preparing for the day I stand before God. I’m not there. I’m in it. I’m pursuing Jesus the same way I pursued the game — relentlessly, imperfectly, and with everything I’ve got. Some days I get it right. A lot of days I don’t. But I’m not walking away from it.

Strapped is not me teaching something I’ve mastered. It’s me saying I need this — the brotherhood, the accountability, the truth — just as much as anyone else. This is about building a team of men inside the hockey community who are done doing life alone. Men who love the game, who love their families, and who know there has to be more. Men who are willing to show up, be real, and pursue Jesus together.

My life, my family, and everything tied to this is because of Jesus Christ. Not because I’ve earned it, and not because I deserve it — but because of His grace. There is one truth. One way. One foundation. Jesus Christ. Everything else — the experiences, the struggles, the failures, the growth — that’s all part of the journey. And none of us walk it the same way. But we don’t have to walk it alone. I don’t have this figured out. I’m not trying to build something about me. I’m trying to stay in the fight, stay in the Word, stay close to Jesus, and stay surrounded by men who are doing the same.

That’s what Strapped is. A brotherhood.
A pursuit.
A life lived for Jesus — together.