Photo By Staff Sgt. jacob Cessna | Brothers Thom Pintar and Anton Pintar(left to right) pose for a photo after the...... read more read more
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Houghton, Mich.– Like many places in the northern United States, people growing up Houghton, Michigan learn to skate as soon as they learn to walk. Still, only Houghton, Michigan has the Dee Stadium, considered the birthplace of professional hockey. The Dee Stadium was built in 1902, while the National Hockey Leauge wouldn't exist for another 15 years. It's burned down, been rebuilt, and had thousands of skates on its ice. Today veterans from all across Michigan put on skates not only for a game they've played their whole lives but also to give back to their fellow brothers and sisters in arms.
Today the Michigan Upper Peninsula Veterans Hockey Club played against the Saginaw Spirit Warriors, another all-veteran team from lower Michigan, with the proceeds raised from the game going to the DJ Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Mich. one of two state-owned veterans homes in Michigan. This "Battle of the Bridge" game is the second game between the two Michigan veteran's hockey teams, the first "Battle of the Bridge" occurring on Jan. 18 in Saginaw, Mich.
Before the game, Tom Glass, head coach for the U.P. Hockey club, was excited for the day. Not just for the game itself, but for the community, and individual players as well.
"The communities have been incredible. When Jon French, the team captain for the U.P. team, and I first started this, I thought it was going to be a home-and-away series; two games and we'd be done, but it's just snowballed. There's a lot of community buy-in, a lot of veteran buy-in."
One aspect that makes these all-veteran teams so impactful to its players is how they restore a sense of camaraderie. Almost any service member can tell you about a time they have connected with a stranger in uniform, maybe from different races, creeds, and backgrounds, because of a shared willingness to answer their nation's call. Those able to play are right back beside their brothers and sisters in arms and, with the help of the D.J. Jacobetti Home For Veterans, able to help the lives of even more veterans.
Proceeds from the game, a total of $5,000, were donated to the D.J. Jacobetti Home For Veterans. The Jacobetti Home in Marquette, Mich., offers quality medical and nursing care to former service members, as well as recreational therapy and social engagement. The Jacobetti Home offers extensive care for 180 members, along with room for civilian spouses, in a home environment.
As well as its community outreach, it also benefits the veterans playing by giving them a therapeutic means to deal with everything from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder to the daily stressors of life. Tom Glass explained how, despite having a tendency to isolate himself, the team gets him out of his house, lets him engage with others, and clears his mind.
“From a therapeutic angle, it's a win-win," said Mark Kloha, team captain for the Sagina Spirit Warriors. "The camaraderie, whether here or overseas, is the same. We’re playing against people that we just met and might know 60 minutes in a hockey game, but at the end of the day, we're all brothers, we’re all the same team."
One of the biggest threats veterans face is that of suicide, with 22 veterans taking their own lives each day. Knowing this, both teams have a mission of suicide prevention, actively supporting each other in the wake of hard times.
"I know my guys aren't going to be one of the 22 a day," Glass said. "They’ve got resources, people they can talk to, and something to look forward to, whether it’s the next practice or the next game."
Retired Army 1st Sgt. Gordan Wiitanen, a retired World War II veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart medal, dropped the ceremonial first puck. Upper Peninsula Hockey Club went on to win the game with a score of 9 to 4. After attending the game, Michigan Rep. Jack Bergman, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general, reached out to the Upper Peninsula Hockey Club, becoming its newest member.
Glass went on to say, "We all wore different uniforms, and now instead of wearing a military uniform and serving the community, we get to a chance to wear a hockey uniform, help each other out, still serve the community, and do some good. It's a lot more than just a hockey game."
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2020 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 364478 |
| Location: | HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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