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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt University Commodores Ice Hockey Club and Hockey Saves players took to the ice Sunday at Bridgestone Arena for friendly competition.
Hockey Saves is a non-profit organization that allows active-duty service members and veterans an opportunity to skate, attend live games, and receive care packages. For this game, there were 15 active-duty service members and two veterans who got to compete against Vanderbilt University athletes.
What the game turned into was much more, because of the suggestion from Vanderbilt’s leadership to mix the teams.
“The opportunity for our boys to interact with current and former Soldiers is a powerful one. We felt like if we had the teams competing on opposite benches that there wouldn’t necessarily be enough camaraderie and opportunity to learn and have conversations from the Soldiers for our boys,” said Thomas Bernstein, head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores Ice Hockey Club. “And conversely, the Hockey Saves participants wouldn’t have an opportunity to get to know our guys either. It just naturally made sense to have an inter-squad game as a result.”
When the Vanderbilt and Hockey Saves players took to the ice it came as a surprise to some of the service members that Vanderbilt decided to make the game more about the esprit de corps by mixing the teams.
“So at first we definitely thought we were going to come in here and it was going to be Hockey Saves vs. Vanderbilt. Then we got here and we were actually pretty excited to find out we were going to mix the teams up a little bit,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Bailey, who is stationed at Fort Campbell as the first sergeant with Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
The teams, vintage vs dark blue jerseys, were separated with half Vanderbilt players and half active-duty service members and veterans.
The vintage team came out strong, leading 4-0 within the first 10 minutes of the game. Dark blue remained calm and by the middle of the second period had it to within one, with the score at 4-3. This kept the excitement on the bench and that of the family and friends watching from the stands engrossed in the game.
“There were a lot of really good players out there, the pace was great, and everyone was involved, everyone was getting great chances, and it was a lot of fun, it was a close game,“ said Andrew Dellapina who is a Senior at Vanderbilt University and plays defense for the Commodores.
The vintage team tried pulling away in the third period, making it 7-5 but the dark blue jerseys responded just a few short minutes later to make it 7-6. Dark blue pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and had a flurry of chances, but the vintage goalie made huge saves. Vintage ended up winning 7-6.
Even with the teams mixed there was still a bit of competitiveness but the Vanderbilt and Hockey Saves players both got to talk to and learn things from each other.
For Dellapina it was a shock to find out one of the Hockey Saves player’s shares the same home state of New Jersey.
“It was great getting to be on the ice together, talking on the bench, hearing about his experiences as a service member. And it was really just a cool experience to play with these guys who do so much for all of us. And just get out on the ice with them and have fun together, play the sport we all love.”
For both Vanderbilt and Hockey Saves the experience ended up being memorable.
“You get to play with Vanderbilt and you get to play in one of the best arenas in the NHL,” said Bailey.
The game concluded Vanderbilt’s season, and also helped to close out the Nashville Predators Military Appreciation Week. Both players and coaches shared the sentiment that they hope this can become an annual tradition.
“It’s awesome these guys (Hockey Saves) get to keep coming out doing something they love and we’re just glad we got to come out to play with them today and have a good experience for our last game of the year,” said Jake Boersma, who is a freshman at Vanderbilt and plays forward for the Commodores. “It’s a lot more fun to go out and have fun rather than being competitive for the last game of the year.”
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.31.2017 11:14 |
| Story ID: | 228745 |
| Location: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camaraderie Over Competition, by MAJ Jennifer Cruz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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