FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 17 2016) -- Fort Benning has two Soldiers donning a different type of uniform - 2nd Lt. Josh Richards and 1st Lt. John Hubbard are playing professional ice hockey with the Columbus Cottonmouths.
The team had players called up to the next level, which created openings in the Cottonmouths' roster. Tyler Henry was called up to Brampton, Louis Belisle to Wheeling and Shawn Bates to Atlanta to play in the East Coast Hockey League.
"Ice hockey is my escape from everything else," Hubbard said.
Both Richards from Lee, New Hampshire, and Hubbard from Arlington, Texas, were introduced to hockey early on in their lives - Richards at age 3 and Hubbard at age 10.
Richards, who plays occasional forward for the Cottonmouths, said he tried ice-skating the first time with his dad.
"I actually hated skating my first time," Richards said. "I tried again and fell in love with hockey and from that day on it pretty much dictated every decision I made in my life."
Richards got into the sport in high school, playing at Berwick Academy in Maine and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and then playing for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
In the Army, he considers hockey a hobby outside of his job.
He said he got in contact with the Cottonmouths through Marcel Alavarez, the captain of his West Point team in 2012, who played a few games for the Cottonmouths as well.
Richards said subbing for the professional team became a reality when his best friend, Tommy McDonnell - who doubles as his sports agent - put in a call for him.
"They practice at 10 a.m. everyday, so it's not really sustainable for me, but I definitely hope to help out when I can and keep playing some hockey," Richards said.
Currently in the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, Richards said when he played for the Cottonmouths, it was his first time stepping on an ice rink in about 10 months. He said he attended the Ranger Course and Airborne School in the summer.
"It is definitely good to have a hobby I love outside of my job in the Army," he said.
Hubbard said the Dallas Stars winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 is what sparked his interest in ice hockey. He tried out for his high school's - Martin High School - ice hockey team the first year it was started and he made the junior varsity team. He was the captain of the JV team his sophomore year, made varsity his junior year and was named captain of the varsity team his senior year.
After high school, he attended the University of Massachusetts Boston, and played junior hockey for the Oswego Admirals.
"When I played in college, there was no thinking about classes, papers and upcoming tests - it was going out there and playing the game you love with a group of guys who are (the) brothers you've been with for the last four years," Hubbard said.
In the Army, Hubbard is a rifle platoon leader at B Company, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment. He will attend the Ranger Course beginning Feb. 21 and then on to his next assignment as the assistant S3 with 1st Battalion (Airborne), 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
After practicing with the Fort Benning hockey team, he told the coach of the Cottonmouths that he was willing to sub in for the team anytime. He played his first games with the Cottonmouths Feb. 5-7.
"I played forward my first game against Huntsville and scored my first professional hockey goal in the second period," Hubbard said.
In games since, Hubbard has played defense.
Hubbard uses hockey as a way to take his mind off cadences and flying bullets and to meet people.
"I think it is invaluable to have a hobby outside the Army," Hubbard said. "It is important to keep a well-balanced lifestyle as to not become consumed by the stresses of work. Having a great group of friends who support you is vital to keeping yourself on track. I now have friends from all over the world because of the guys I played hockey with in upstate New York, Canada, Boston and now Columbus."
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