thedrifter
11-28-08, 05:41 AM
Military hockey team plays D.C. Police for charity
11/27/2008 By Wandoo Makurdi , Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Joint Task Force National Capital Region Military Hockey team played D.C. Police in a 45 minute, three-period game Sunday at the Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots foundation. The D.C. Police held off the resurging Capital Region to win 5-4.
Ryan Parent, coach of the Capital Region team, came up with the idea to host a charity hockey game that could raise money for the Toys for Tots foundation and help publicize the recently formed hockey team.
‘‘We had a couple of guys that were willing to help do the extra work ... and willing to help donate the ice,” Parent said about the game. ‘‘We were lucky to have good people who were willing to donate their time to a worthy cause like Toys for Tots.”
With the help of Bill and Pat Hutzler, owners of the Prince William Ice Center, who donated the use of the rink for the game; the D.C. Police, who accepted the invitation to play; the Washington Capitals, who donated some merchandise for a raffle giveaway and allowed its mascot SlapShot to serve as the game’s ceremonial mascot; and the referees, who donated their time, Parent said his team was able to hold the event at no cost when it could’ve cost up to $600.
‘‘I’ve always been supportive of Toys for Tots,” Bill Hutzler said. ‘‘And I think it’s a wonderful thing that the Marine Corps does, and we’ll continue to support it for as long as we can. It’s a great charity.”
The Capital Region scored the game’s first goal at the 8:49 mark in the first period when Timothy Smith converted an assist from assistant captain and co-organizer David Morgan. D.C. Police tied the game with 4:20 left in the quarter on a power play. D.C. Police then took and built on the lead with goals at the 1:55 and 1:26 marks in the first quarter.
One minute and 15 seconds into the second quarter, forward William Morris scored for the Capital Region after getting a quick pass from teammate Christopher Robinson, but another goal by D.C. Police defender Ed Cassin dropped the Capital Region to a 4-2 deficit by the end of the second quarter.
Capital Region mounted a comeback in the third period after allowing a quick goal at the start of the period and falling behind 5-2, but goals from forwards Roger Mattioli and Christopher Wagner, whose goal came with only 28 seconds left in the game, were not enough to help Capital Region recover.
The game was as closely contested. Capital Region finished the game with 30 shots on the net to 34 shots by the D.C. Police.
‘‘The team played really well,” Parent said. ‘‘This was our second game and majority of the team hadn’t even played with each other before tonight. It caused a lot of miscommunication and a lot of errors, which D.C. was able to capitalize on.”
Parent also said that too many penalties incurred by his team gave D.C. Police plenty of opportunities on the power play.
Toys for Tot event coordinator Lawrence Sanchez said he was surprised at how many donations the foundation received by the end of the night, especially in just the first year of the event.
‘‘We had two full boxes of toys and over $500 in donations,” Sanchez said. ‘‘It was so much more than we expected. This is a truly successful event. I’m blown away.”
Sanchez, who said he was only expecting a box of toys and not more than $75 in donations, said he hopes the event was one of many to come.
By the end of the night, the event had raised more than $700 toward the foundation and Parent said he expected the figure to round up to $800 once all the money had been accounted for. All proceeds went toward the foundation.
‘‘Overall, this event turned out very well,” Parent said. ‘‘The teams played a great game and gave the fans something to cheer about, and I’m glad that we were able to raise all the toys and money for a great cause and give some children a chance at a great Christmas.”
The Capital Region’s next game will be against the Fort Bragg Army base, Parent said. The actual date has not been determined nor has how the team will raise the budget to schedule future games, but Parent said the team certainly has a future. The majority of the team is made up of Marines, but there are Army, Navy and Air Force members on the team.
‘‘Looking at the stands right now, things look good for the future of the team,” Parent said.
Ellie
11/27/2008 By Wandoo Makurdi , Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Joint Task Force National Capital Region Military Hockey team played D.C. Police in a 45 minute, three-period game Sunday at the Prince William Ice Center in Woodbridge for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots foundation. The D.C. Police held off the resurging Capital Region to win 5-4.
Ryan Parent, coach of the Capital Region team, came up with the idea to host a charity hockey game that could raise money for the Toys for Tots foundation and help publicize the recently formed hockey team.
‘‘We had a couple of guys that were willing to help do the extra work ... and willing to help donate the ice,” Parent said about the game. ‘‘We were lucky to have good people who were willing to donate their time to a worthy cause like Toys for Tots.”
With the help of Bill and Pat Hutzler, owners of the Prince William Ice Center, who donated the use of the rink for the game; the D.C. Police, who accepted the invitation to play; the Washington Capitals, who donated some merchandise for a raffle giveaway and allowed its mascot SlapShot to serve as the game’s ceremonial mascot; and the referees, who donated their time, Parent said his team was able to hold the event at no cost when it could’ve cost up to $600.
‘‘I’ve always been supportive of Toys for Tots,” Bill Hutzler said. ‘‘And I think it’s a wonderful thing that the Marine Corps does, and we’ll continue to support it for as long as we can. It’s a great charity.”
The Capital Region scored the game’s first goal at the 8:49 mark in the first period when Timothy Smith converted an assist from assistant captain and co-organizer David Morgan. D.C. Police tied the game with 4:20 left in the quarter on a power play. D.C. Police then took and built on the lead with goals at the 1:55 and 1:26 marks in the first quarter.
One minute and 15 seconds into the second quarter, forward William Morris scored for the Capital Region after getting a quick pass from teammate Christopher Robinson, but another goal by D.C. Police defender Ed Cassin dropped the Capital Region to a 4-2 deficit by the end of the second quarter.
Capital Region mounted a comeback in the third period after allowing a quick goal at the start of the period and falling behind 5-2, but goals from forwards Roger Mattioli and Christopher Wagner, whose goal came with only 28 seconds left in the game, were not enough to help Capital Region recover.
The game was as closely contested. Capital Region finished the game with 30 shots on the net to 34 shots by the D.C. Police.
‘‘The team played really well,” Parent said. ‘‘This was our second game and majority of the team hadn’t even played with each other before tonight. It caused a lot of miscommunication and a lot of errors, which D.C. was able to capitalize on.”
Parent also said that too many penalties incurred by his team gave D.C. Police plenty of opportunities on the power play.
Toys for Tot event coordinator Lawrence Sanchez said he was surprised at how many donations the foundation received by the end of the night, especially in just the first year of the event.
‘‘We had two full boxes of toys and over $500 in donations,” Sanchez said. ‘‘It was so much more than we expected. This is a truly successful event. I’m blown away.”
Sanchez, who said he was only expecting a box of toys and not more than $75 in donations, said he hopes the event was one of many to come.
By the end of the night, the event had raised more than $700 toward the foundation and Parent said he expected the figure to round up to $800 once all the money had been accounted for. All proceeds went toward the foundation.
‘‘Overall, this event turned out very well,” Parent said. ‘‘The teams played a great game and gave the fans something to cheer about, and I’m glad that we were able to raise all the toys and money for a great cause and give some children a chance at a great Christmas.”
The Capital Region’s next game will be against the Fort Bragg Army base, Parent said. The actual date has not been determined nor has how the team will raise the budget to schedule future games, but Parent said the team certainly has a future. The majority of the team is made up of Marines, but there are Army, Navy and Air Force members on the team.
‘‘Looking at the stands right now, things look good for the future of the team,” Parent said.
Ellie