Big Green Participate in Sled Hockey Event for Local Veterans
HANOVER, N.H. - Moving away from the friendly and familiar confines of Thompson Arena, several members of the Dartmouth men's hockey team found themselves looking at the game they love in a whole new light Monday afternoon at Campion Rink in Lebanon.
The members of the Big Green in attendance participated in a sled hockey event set up for local veterans.
Thanks in large part to the work of athletic trainer Nicole Humann and her work to organize the event, the nearby rink hosted several veterans and others from the Upper Valley in a game of sled hockey.
Over the course of the last few years, and with the help of Tom Carr of Northeast Passage, Humann worked to get an event like this to the area. A late-bloomer to the sport, she only recently picked up the game, which helped spark her interest in setting up a sled hockey event for disable veterans.
"It's been a few years in the works," Humann said. "It's great to have these guys here and the purpose is to get them out on the ice, doing something physical. This might be the first time they have been able to do anything like this since being injured.
"It's something that can give them confidence, not only to play a sport, but also for anything they want to do in their lives. This is something that can help with the idea of normalcy in life again," Humann added.
Carr arrived at Campion to find sophomores Matt Lindblad (Winnetka, Ill.) and Taylor Boldt (Niwot, Colo.) waiting to help unload the sleds and equipment and bring them into the rink.
From there, seniors Nick Walsh (Shannonville, Ontario), Jody O'Neill (Nepean, Onatrio), Connor Goggin (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and Jim Gaudet (Etna, N.H.) helped several players with equipment and proper sizing prior to getting onto the ice.
Once all players were on the rink, the four Dartmouth players put on their own skates and went though the drills just like all the other hockey players.
"We know how fortunate we are to be playing at the level we are, but it really is a great experience to come out here and see the passion that others have for this game," Goggin said. "This really shows how popular the sport is. If we can do anything to get out there and give something back to those who served our country, then there is no hesitation from us to do so."
Carr, an Assistant Director with Northeast Passage for 14 years, has been involved in sled hockey since he began his current position. In that time he has helped develop and oversee the growth of the sport in New England. A part of the U.S. Paralympics, the sled hockey program in New England is currently ranked second in the nation.
Northeast Passage's motto is to "Empower individuals with disabilities to Define. Pursue. Achieve. their Therapeutic Recreation and Adaptive Sports goals."
