thedrifter
04-01-03, 11:30 AM
Marines 'face-off' on ice with Washington Capitals
Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story Identification Number: 200333161927
Story by Sgt. John R. Lawson III
DALE CITY, Va. (March 26, 2003) -- Twenty Marines lived a dream March 22 when they played hockey against some of their childhood idols.
Team Marine, however, lost its debut game to the Washington Capitals Alumni by a score of 4-1 at SkateQuest in Dale City, Va.
The Cap Alumni play against area teams in charity games. The team has some recently retired players, and it also has a few gray-haired players, such as Alan Hangsleben.
Hangsleben, who turned 50 in February, scored the first goal against Team Marine. Hangsleben played defense for the Caps in the early 1980s after beginning his National Hockey League career in 1979 with the Hartford Whalers. He left the NHL after spending the 1981-82 season with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Cap Alumni also include some long-time veterans of the NHL, such as 43-year-old Dale Hunter, the center who played in the NHL from 1980 to 1999, including 12 seasons with the Caps.
While Marines don't like to lose, they felt good after such a strong showing against men who used to earn a living playing the sport.
Team Marine's only mark on the scoreboard came when Cpl. Shawn Patten of Goffstown, N.H., put one in the net during the second period.
Also in the second period, Pete Iannacone scored a pair of goals for the Caps. The game's final goal came from 45-year-old Nelson Burton, whose lone NHL season was spent as a Cap in 1978-79.
Playing against men who had distinguished themselves in the National Hockey League was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the players of Team Marine, said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Schellhorn.
These players "were (our) heroes growing up," said Schellhorn, who works in criminal investigations at Quantico. During the game, Schellhorn squared off against one of his favorite players, Mark Tinordi.
Tinordi, who turns 37 in May, is one of the younger Cap Alumni. He played 12 NHL seasons. Playing defense at over 210 pounds, and standing 6 feet and 4 inches, he was known for his size. He retired from the Caps and the league in 1999.
As for Team Marine, the hero on the ice was Staff Sgt. Mark Daire, the goalie named Player of the Game for making 20 saves.
Schellhorn lauded Daire for putting the team together and playing so well against former professionals.
"He brought his game to a new level today," Schellhorn said. "He was phenomenal."
However valuable Daire was on the ice, he was even more valuable in the months before, when he began organizing the team from scratch. He put the team together in less than three months.
Earlier this year, SkateQuest asked Daire about the possibility of assembling a Marine team. Daire, who has been a hockey fan since his youth in Chaska, Minn., spread the word. In short order, 40 Marines tried out, and 20 made the final cut. Most of the Marines are stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Daire is in the corrections office at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., which made putting the team together that much more difficult.
With all the hard work leading up to the game and his stellar performance at goalie, Daire had a lot to be excited about. Before the players left the ice at the end of the game, Daire grabbed a Marine Corps flag and held it high as he skated around the rink. Hundreds of fans cheered, just as they had earlier when the announcer asked them to show support for troops fighting in Iraq.
"I couldn't have asked for anything better," Daire said later. He also noted that the large number of fans represented another success, as their tickets generated $1,000 for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Like others on Team Marine, Daire enjoyed playing against the players he has watched as a fan of the game. However, he got an unexpected thrill after the game when several children approached him and asked him to sign pictures or posters.
"It's kind of cool having kids come up and ask me for my autograph," said Daire.
Daire's fellow goalie, Arne Sanford, also earned praise from teammates. Sanford, who retired as a sergeant after serving in the Corps from 1985 to 1993, now lives in Stafford, Va.
Sanford said it's special to play his favorite sport for the Marines. The thing that makes hockey special is the grit required to succeed in the sport, he said.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20033316234/$file/1TeamsLO.jpg
Team Marine and the Washington Capitals alumni team pose together after their recent game. The Caps prevailed, 4-1. Photo by: Sgt. John R. Lawson III
Sempers,
Roger
Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story Identification Number: 200333161927
Story by Sgt. John R. Lawson III
DALE CITY, Va. (March 26, 2003) -- Twenty Marines lived a dream March 22 when they played hockey against some of their childhood idols.
Team Marine, however, lost its debut game to the Washington Capitals Alumni by a score of 4-1 at SkateQuest in Dale City, Va.
The Cap Alumni play against area teams in charity games. The team has some recently retired players, and it also has a few gray-haired players, such as Alan Hangsleben.
Hangsleben, who turned 50 in February, scored the first goal against Team Marine. Hangsleben played defense for the Caps in the early 1980s after beginning his National Hockey League career in 1979 with the Hartford Whalers. He left the NHL after spending the 1981-82 season with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Cap Alumni also include some long-time veterans of the NHL, such as 43-year-old Dale Hunter, the center who played in the NHL from 1980 to 1999, including 12 seasons with the Caps.
While Marines don't like to lose, they felt good after such a strong showing against men who used to earn a living playing the sport.
Team Marine's only mark on the scoreboard came when Cpl. Shawn Patten of Goffstown, N.H., put one in the net during the second period.
Also in the second period, Pete Iannacone scored a pair of goals for the Caps. The game's final goal came from 45-year-old Nelson Burton, whose lone NHL season was spent as a Cap in 1978-79.
Playing against men who had distinguished themselves in the National Hockey League was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the players of Team Marine, said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Schellhorn.
These players "were (our) heroes growing up," said Schellhorn, who works in criminal investigations at Quantico. During the game, Schellhorn squared off against one of his favorite players, Mark Tinordi.
Tinordi, who turns 37 in May, is one of the younger Cap Alumni. He played 12 NHL seasons. Playing defense at over 210 pounds, and standing 6 feet and 4 inches, he was known for his size. He retired from the Caps and the league in 1999.
As for Team Marine, the hero on the ice was Staff Sgt. Mark Daire, the goalie named Player of the Game for making 20 saves.
Schellhorn lauded Daire for putting the team together and playing so well against former professionals.
"He brought his game to a new level today," Schellhorn said. "He was phenomenal."
However valuable Daire was on the ice, he was even more valuable in the months before, when he began organizing the team from scratch. He put the team together in less than three months.
Earlier this year, SkateQuest asked Daire about the possibility of assembling a Marine team. Daire, who has been a hockey fan since his youth in Chaska, Minn., spread the word. In short order, 40 Marines tried out, and 20 made the final cut. Most of the Marines are stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.
Daire is in the corrections office at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., which made putting the team together that much more difficult.
With all the hard work leading up to the game and his stellar performance at goalie, Daire had a lot to be excited about. Before the players left the ice at the end of the game, Daire grabbed a Marine Corps flag and held it high as he skated around the rink. Hundreds of fans cheered, just as they had earlier when the announcer asked them to show support for troops fighting in Iraq.
"I couldn't have asked for anything better," Daire said later. He also noted that the large number of fans represented another success, as their tickets generated $1,000 for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.
Like others on Team Marine, Daire enjoyed playing against the players he has watched as a fan of the game. However, he got an unexpected thrill after the game when several children approached him and asked him to sign pictures or posters.
"It's kind of cool having kids come up and ask me for my autograph," said Daire.
Daire's fellow goalie, Arne Sanford, also earned praise from teammates. Sanford, who retired as a sergeant after serving in the Corps from 1985 to 1993, now lives in Stafford, Va.
Sanford said it's special to play his favorite sport for the Marines. The thing that makes hockey special is the grit required to succeed in the sport, he said.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20033316234/$file/1TeamsLO.jpg
Team Marine and the Washington Capitals alumni team pose together after their recent game. The Caps prevailed, 4-1. Photo by: Sgt. John R. Lawson III
Sempers,
Roger