Photo By Sgt. Timothy Dinneen | Carolina Hurricane head coach Peter Laviolette swings back down to earth from the 34...... read more read more
Subscribe
Spc. Timothy Dinneen
82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Sept. 27, 2006) - Fort Bragg was the eye of a storm as members of the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes visited the 82nd Airborne Division as part of its team-building exercise Sept. 26.
"We wanted to bring the team together because when they work together solving tasks or overcoming fears they become familiar with each other so they can depend on each other," said Brian Tatum, director of team operations. "We've done team building in the past like rock climbing and this year coach wanted to do something unique."
"It's about getting the guys together away from the rink and with all the bases around here we thought it would be nice to visit a base," said Hurricane coach Peter Laviolette. "We want to see the things the base has to offer whether they're towers or shooting guns and hanging out with Soldiers."
The Hurricanes ate lunch with paratroopers at the Pegasus Inn dining facility, learned about the Javelin weapon system, experienced the Vehicle Combat Convoy Trainer, fired weapons at the Engagement Skills Trainer, overcame the 34 foot tower, and worked together to defeat the Leadership Development Course.
"One of the good things about coming is to listen to Soldiers stories because it puts everything in perspective," said Andrew Ladd, Hurricane forward. "This is the first time I've been here so I didn't know what to expect but everything looks nice and the food is good."
"It's always a perfect choice coming to an open buffet because these guys can eat," Laviolette jested.
"They're normal people who are interesting to meet," said Sgt. John Cristiano, 82nd Airborne Division Band. "I like them and enjoy going to their games so I thought it would be cool to meet them."
Players sat through the Javelin introduction by watching the shoulder-fired rocket system hit soviet era tanks. Laughter could be heard by the teammates as two of the players hailed from Russia.
Coach Laviolette drew parallels of what it takes to build a strong team in both military and professional sports.
"In order to be successful in sports, you have to battle with your teammates and make sacrifices giving everything that you have and ultimately to believe in that and I know the military is the same way," Laviolette explained. "I think there are a lot of similarities although there's a lot more at stake in the military than in sports in general."
Laviolette went on to say that many of the players were fired up to be here because the first question asked by the team was if they would be able to fire a weapon.
The Engagement Skills Trainer gave the team an opportunity to zero an M-4 semi-automatic rifle and engage targets in different scenarios and environments on a video screen.
"This was the first time firing a gun so it was different but I had a blast," said Jeff Daniels, Hurricane team member. "The toughest part was spotting the people as they showed up on the screen."
Soldiers in the EST gave tips and performed an exhibition on how to properly fire their weapons.
"They're famous hockey players and I'm just a Soldier but it seemed like for once we were on the same level and I could teach them what I do," said Pfc. Michael Zigler, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. "I like it because I'm in the Army and I don't get to talk to a lot of civilians and it's nice to give back to the community."
The Hurricanes used their new weapon skills in the Vehicle Combat Convoy Trainer. The convoy simulation allowed hockey players to travel down an Iraqi desert road warding off ambushes with the help of a mock Humvee and three large video screens surrounding them in a horse shoe pattern.
"It's amazing how real it felt with the guns, it definitely got the heart rate going," said Kevyn Adams, Hurricane forward. "It's probably as close as you can get to the real thing and it gave me an appreciation for what you do."
The 34 foot tower had the champions of the National Hockey League tip-toeing up the stairs. One unlucky player came away from the jump with an unexpected hockey make-over.
"I jumped out and saw my tooth come out front," said Hurricane forward Ray Whitney after chipping his front tooth. "Now I fit in as a hockey player."
"It was awesome," exclaimed Whitney of the experience.
"They've got a little training to go through before they can be compared to what the best of the 82nd has to offer," said Staff Sgt. Dan Vennero, jump master, U.S. Army Advanced Airborne School. "The tower is a good team building tool because you have people pushing you to overcome fears developing an 'espirit de corps' that every team needs."
After jumping out of the tower Hurricane forward Rod Brind'Amour said that he had a new appreciation for his job and that jumping out of airplanes is not for him.
"I was most scared when I got up to the tower and looked down," Brind'Amour said. "It takes a different kind of courage to do this for a living."
Players continued working together and solving problems at the Leadership Development Course and listened to Brig. Gen. Karl R. Horst, deputy commander, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, give a talk at a dinner to close the evening.
The coaches and players said they hoped the exercises they went through here will help them come together and win another championship.
"I think we have a good team and we'll put ourselves in a good position to win a lot of hockey games and compete for another Stanley Cup," Laviolette said.
| Date Taken: | 09.27.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2006 11:36 |
| Story ID: | 7864 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 250 |
| Downloads: | 157 |
This work, Carolina Hurricanes Visit Fort Bragg, by SGT Timothy Dinneen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
