Adam Burt’s Playbook for Life

FAMILY LIFE

Adam Burt grew up in Detroit, Michigan. His family has always been hockey fans. Burt’s dad got him on skates when he was young and was also his first hockey coach. At first, Burt admits that he wasn’t very good at it, but regardless of how many hits he took, he kept getting back up. 

With a Catholic father who only attended church on holidays and a mother who wasn’t sure if God even existed, Burt grew up not knowing the Lord. When his parents divorced when he was 11 years old, his dad got custody of him, his brother, and his sister. Later, his mom found the Lord and began taking the kids to church. That’s when Adam was introduced to the gospel message, and a seed was planted that would take time to grow.

Burt kept playing hockey and got good at it.  Eventually, he was drafted and played professional hockey for 14 years with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Atlanta Thrashers.

THE LONGEST GAME 

His book, The Longest Game draws direct parallels between the perseverance, teamwork, and resilience required in professional hockey and the challenges people face in everyday life. The title itself is inspired by his participation in the longest NHL playoff game in modern history—the Philadelphia Flyers’ five-overtime win in 2000. It started at 7:30 pm and didn’t end until 2:30 am. At the end of the game, when the puck entered the net, you could hear a “ping,” which meant you got a goal. They ended up winning and in the dressing room afterwards, the players looked each other feeling exhausted and accomplished at the same time, Adam shares, “It occurred to me that there’s coming a time in everybody’s life when there is going to be this epic ‘ping’ and either Jesus is going to crack the sky open or you’re going to breathe your last breath. You want to be able to look your savior in the eye and be like ‘Lord, I left it all out there for you. I didn’t hold anything back, and I want to hear ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.’” 

Burt structures his book into three sections: Missing the Mark, Training to Win, and Playing to Win--mirroring the three periods of a hockey game, to illustrate how life, like hockey, is composed of distinct phases, each with its challenges and opportunities for growth. He uses vivid stories from his playing days to teach lessons about faith, determination, and finding purpose.  

He emphasizes that just as he had to “grind” and get back up after falling in hockey, people must learn to persist through setbacks in life, relying on faith and community for support. Burt also reflects on how transitioning from hockey to ministry taught him that true identity and meaning come from living out one’s faith and values, rather than from professional achievements or external recognition.

Throughout the book, Burt encourages readers to “go all in” with their faith and commitments, just as he did in hockey and now does in his ministry, framing life’s journey as the ultimate game that requires both heart and grit. 

He also addresses deep questions, like: 

• Who am I? A child of God
• Why am I here? Finding purpose and identity
• What is wrong with the world? Sin
• And how can it be fixed? Jesus

During his career, Burt endured: 200 stitches, a broken jaw, seven nose breaks, two check bone reconstructions (numerous plates and screws in his face), a knee reconstruction, shoulder dislocation, and five back surgeries, which forced him to retire.

WHAT NEXT?

After retirement, Burt thought he would get into sports broadcasting, but God had other plans. His pastor and mentor, Ron Lewis, was always encouraging Burt. “He was always speaking into my life,” he shares. 
After 9/11, Pastor Lewis was tasked with planting a church in Manhattan and asked Burt to help. Burt was the associate pastor at Every Nation Churches and eventually became the lead pastor of the New York City and New Jersey branches, where he has served for over 20 years. 

During a church service, Burt was preaching, and Kenyon Coleman, a New York Jets defensive lineman, was in attendance.  After the service, he approached Burt and told him he should try out to become the team chaplain. Burt became team chaplain and has held the position since 2008.

To check out Every Nation Church or purchase the book The Longest Game: Winning At Life click the LINK! 

CREDITS

Author, The Longest Game (Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2025); Former NHL hockey player (14 yrs); 
Team chaplain, New York Jets since 2008; Lead pastor for Every Nation Churches (NYC & 
New Jersey); Married to Susan, two adult daughters--Cassandra and Elizabeth.