Huntsville Hosts First Ever ‘Battle of the Brave’ Veterans Hockey Game!
This past Saturday, Huntsville was buzzing with excitement as the ice turned into a battlefield for a cause! The Huntsville Ice Sports Center was the venue for an electrifying hockey match known as the ‘Battle of the Brave’, an all-veterans game that pitted the Trigger Happy team against Unconventional Warfare. And boy, did it deliver some thrilling action while raising funds for an incredible organization called Still Serving Veterans.
An Unforgettable Game
The festivities kicked off right away, with the Trigger Happy team hitting the ground running—literally! Phil Maynard sniped the first goal within just 28 seconds, and the crowd erupted in cheers! By the end of the first period, Trigger Happy had put three more goals on the board, establishing themselves as the frontrunners from the start.
Overall, Trigger Happy claimed a hard-fought victory with a final score of 6-4. Tyler Bingham shined brightest in this contest, scoring two impressive goals! Other players like Stan Lozovsky, Patryk Tryburski, and Nathan Weinland each contributed to the scoreboard, but it was Weinland who made the play of the day with a short-handed goal. Talk about teamwork!
Unified for a Cause
The event wasn’t just about scoring goals; it fostered a spirit of camaraderie among veterans from various branches of the armed services, giving them a chance to reconnect and have fun. Tyler Bingham, who recently retired from the Army, shared his feelings about the match, saying, “I think it is a great opportunity to help out fellow Soldiers and veterans and bring that camaraderie back that some of us have been missing since getting out of the military.”
Putting on this event took a village! The Huntsville Havoc players reigned as referees and coaches while mascots Chaos and Rukus kept the energy high, entertaining the audience between plays. Even jerseys were auctioned off, adding another layer to the fundraising success!
Hats Off to Unconventional Warfare!
On the other side, while it was tough to face off against the home team, the Unconventional Warfare players didn’t go down without a fight. Jon Farr led the charge for his team, achieving a hat trick with three stellar goals, including one during a power play! His superhero-like performance didn’t go unnoticed, and he said, “I thought it was amazing that we supported Still Serving Veterans. They actually helped me find my first job when I got out.”
Farr’s experience resonates with many veterans as he recounted his years of playing hockey at the very same rink where the game took place—now that’s what we call coming full circle!
Looking to the Future
The brainchild of the event, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steve Dermer, aims to turn this into an annual tradition. He excitedly mentioned that they approached nearly $10,000 in proceeds for Still Serving Veterans, all while rallying great community support. “We are gonna make this an annual event, and we intend to grow it into an all veteran tournament. That’s the goal,” Dermer remarked.
With so many veterans eager to take part, Dermer even had to manage a waitlist! It’s safe to say that this first-ever ‘Battle of the Brave’ was a resounding success. As veterans skated, battled, and raised money for a worthy cause, Huntsville surely showed it’s heart—making each cheer and every goal count!
