In hockey, gap control is everything.
It’s the space between your opponent and your defensive zone—and if you don’t control it, they will. It’s the invisible battlefield that determines whether your team is in control or playing catch-up.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: gap control isn’t just about the ice—it’s a spiritual principle too. And when we lose sight of it in life, the cost is often much higher than a game.
Let me take you back to the 2008-09 hockey season. I was coaching the Enfield Varsity Ice Hockey team, and we were dialed in. That year, we implemented a 1-2-2 system designed specifically to own the neutral zone. We played disciplined, smart hockey, forcing teams to the outside and controlling that crucial middle third of the ice. Our gap control through the neutral zone made it almost impossible for opponents to create quality scoring chances.
We were on a 7-game winning streak, feeling confident heading into a road game against North Branford—a team we had already beaten 8-5 earlier that season. Going into that matchup, our record was 12-3. Theirs? 3-12.
With 2:30 left in the third period, we were up 4-2. They called a timeout. I gathered the team and said:
“Okay boys, you know the system—1-2-2. Tighten up the gap. Lock it down. If you get the puck, dump it in. Let’s close this out.”
But one of our players got the puck and instead of dumping it in and falling back into our system, he went for the kill shot. He tried to score. But it didn’t land.
They scooped up the rebound, transitioned quickly, and scored: 4-3.
Then off the faceoff, they dumped it in, beat our defenseman to the puck, and scored again: 4-4.
In overtime, we lost 5-4.
We didn’t just lose the game—we lost our grip on the gap. We stepped outside the system and paid the price.
Now, that game has stuck with me for years—not because of the loss, but because of what it taught me.
God has called each of us to stand in the gap.
Ezekiel 22:30 says:
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land…”
In life, just like on the ice, there’s a space we’re meant to protect. The neutral zone of our homes, our communities, our faith, our calling. And when we step out of alignment—when we chase something flashy instead of staying faithful to what God’s instructed—we leave the door open for the enemy to score.
Standing in the gap means:
- Praying when no one else will.
- Leading when it’s easier to follow.
- Obeying even when the spotlight is somewhere else.
- Protecting spiritual territory with wisdom and obedience.
The truth is, winning streaks don’t matter if we abandon the system in the final moments.
God is calling us to live with discipline, strategy, and faithfulness—not just emotion.
So ask yourself today:
Where has God called me to stand in the gap? Is it for your kids? Your church? Your marriage? Your city?
It’s not always glamorous, but it’s powerful.
And when we show up with obedience, when we tighten the gap and follow the play God’s given us—we create space for His victory.
Practical Tip:
Identify one area in your life where you need to “tighten the gap.” Maybe it’s in your habits, your prayer life, or the boundaries you set. Write it down. Commit to it this week. Let discipline—not impulse—lead your decisions.
Obsessed with goals and vision,
