All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp with 6-3 win over local team

By Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public AffairsDecember 12, 2018

All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp at Fort Drum
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All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp at Fort Drum
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All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp at Fort Drum
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All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp at Fort Drum
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All Army Hockey wraps up trial camp at Fort Drum
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FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Dec. 12, 2018) -- The Watertown Wolves supported the All Army Hockey program for a second year with a friendly scrimmage Dec. 5 at Cerow Ice Arena in Clayton.

The minor professional hockey team provided the Soldier-athletes their last competitive contest before they departed Fort Drum for Finland. According to All Army Sports, the team will compete against Finnish military hockey teams and the Finnish NHL All-Star team Dec. 12-14.

"They did a really good job adjusting to adjusting to the Wolves' neutral zone play, which is something we hadn't talked about in practice before, said Lt. Col. Darrin Janisch, assistant coach. "The guys picked up on it right away on ice, and we were pretty successful."

Janisch said that he was proud of how the players are always ready to compete against any team and at any arena. This is an attitude they take with them overseas.

"Our boys are always going to step on the ice, no matter where, and play their hardest for three full periods," Jansich said. "Every single one of them has a 'never quit' attitude and that comes from being a Soldier. I mean, they don't waste any opportunity to compete at a high level, and to get better. Even when something isn't going their way, they stay resilient."

Sgt. 1st Class Sean Harjala said that the team was looking forward to international competition.

"We've been coming together more and more as a team every time we hit the ice," he said. "It's definitely going to be a blast getting to play in Finland."

Harjala, assigned to 1st Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has the experience of being a two-year starting forward on the All Army team.

"There's a lot talent on the team, and I saw that last year too," he said. "The dynamic might have changed a little, obviously, with the different personalities but it is still a good group of guys playing great hockey."

Janisch said that the team was grateful for the support they received during the two-week trial camp.

"Fort Drum and the Watertown communities, once again, have been outstanding to us," he said. "We just love coming here. We show up and everyone from the commanding general on down have been so welcoming and helping us accomplish what we need to do."

Representing the All Army Hockey Team are:

Pfc. Michael Antoniou, Fort Hood, Texas

Capt. John Hubbard, Fort Benning, Georgia

Capt. Matthew Milley, Fort Benning, Georgia

Sgt. Jeremiah Desrosier, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Spc. Tre Gubelman, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Sgt. 1st Class Sean Harjala, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Staff Sgt. Matthew Jimenez, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Cpl. Evan Joyal, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Spc. Jordan McInnis, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Spc. Connor O'Leary, Fort Carson, Colorado

Capt. Joseph Spracklen, Fort Gordon, Georgia

Capt. Colby Burling, Fort Carson, Colorado

1st Lt. Richard Metcalf, Fort Richardson, Alaska

1st Lt. Timothy Houston, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

1st Lt. Luke Jenkins, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

1st Lt. Joseph Kozlak, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

1st Lt. Joshua Roberts, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

1st Lt. Juan Perez, Minnesota National Guard

2nd Lt. Curran Reuschlein, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii

Pfc. Tye Berger, Vicenza, Italy

1st Lt. Jonathan Hearn, U.S. Army Garrison-Italy

On staff are:

Head coach/player Capt. Jeff Fearing, U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Assistant coach Lt. Col. Darrin Jansich, Minnesota National Guard

Trainer Maj. Christina Hylden, Fort Greely, Alaska

Equipment manager Pfc. Brendan Taylor

To learn more about the All Army Sports program, visit https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/sports-and-fitness/all-army-sports and follow the various teams' activities at https://www.facebook.com/TheAllArmySports/.

Related Links:

All Army Sports on Facebook

10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum

All Army Sports

2018 All Army Hockey photos