FORT BELVOIR, Va. - While growing up in Minnesota, hockey was a major part of retired Staff Sgt. Andrew Hill's life.
After rising up the ranks and into juniors, Hill joined the Army and was subsequently injured while serving in Afghanistan. At the same time, a longtime friend was injured in Iraq and the two ended up at Walter Reed Army Medical Center together.
While at Walter Reed, Hill was approached by USA Hockey about forming a team of Wounded Warriors, and the USA Warriors Hockey Program was born.
"The program started when I was in a wheelchair and USA Hockey, who I had worked with as a youngster, asked me if I wanted to play some hockey," Hill said. "I thought to myself, 'How I am going to play hockey in a wheelchair' and that is when we were introduced to sled hockey and that was our foundation."
The program has grown to include a sled hockey team and a standing team that plays out of Laurel, Md. Teams from rinks all over the National Capital Region offer to play the Warriors and donate money. Hill captains the standing team.
"We welcome all skill levels from beginners to experienced players," Hill said. "It is part of our therapy now and they are assigned to us and we bring anyone interested out and teach them how to skate.
"We have had a lot of people interested in hockey lately and many of them have no hockey background, but once they get on the ice, they enjoy it," Hill said.
The Warriors were invited to play the "No Stars" from Tucker Road Ice Rink Saturday, a game in which they came out victorious, 6-5.
The No Stars raised more than $1,500 to donate to the Warriors program.
Mike Vaccaro, is both a member of both the Warriors Hockey team and the No Stars, but he chose to play with his Tucker Road team for this event.
"The No Stars are just a bunch of over 40 year old guys who all play in the adult recreation league on Thursday nights," Vaccaro said. "We got together with the commissioner of the league and set up this event and he set up the teams and rented the ice.
"It really turned out great, was evenly matched and the guys on both sides really had a great time," Vaccaro said.
Hill agreed.
"It was really great because there was so much mixed talent out there," Hill said. "With my experience I can skate all day, but it was really great to set up my less experienced teammates and see the expression on their faces when they scored."
USA Hockey has partnered with the NHL in support of the Warriors program with "Hockey is for everyone."
Thursday, NHL legend Grant Fuhr donated equipment to the program and instructed players on the finer points of the game.
Fuhr also contributed game worn memorabilia for an auction.
The donation provides the program with extra gear for its participants.
"What we do is have seven to eight bags of communal gear, because we don't expect all players to go out and buy $1,500 worth of gear," Hill said. "I donated some of my old gear and so did others, so we can properly equip our beginning players."
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