To the Editor:

The Fort Drum Mountain Warriors Sled Hockey team would like to thank the North Country community for their overwhelming support of the 5th annual Mountain Warrior Sled Hockey Tournament held March 3rd-5th at SUNY Canton.

Throughout the weekend, nearly 100 wounded soldiers and disabled athletes from 6 teams across New York state and Canada were warmly welcomed with support of many local businesses, organizations, and individuals and treated to another fantastic tournament. From the moment the first puck dropped at 7:00AM Friday morning, the energy and excitement of every participant and spectator could be felt throughout the entire CARC Center. The athletes enjoyed fierce competition throughout the weekend and, more importantly, a camaraderie unmatched in any other sport. This year, the Durham Steelhawks of Ontario, Canada defended their championship title and the Kingston Knights of Kingston, Ontario placed second, Ottawa third, Buffalo fourth, Syracuse fifth and Ft. Drum sixth.

The action-packed weekend was well-attended thanks in large part to corporate sponsorships which helped provide promotional support in the weeks leading up to the tournament. The team would like to thank Presenting Sponsors the Society of American Military Engineers – Fort Drum Post, Edward C. Seymour VFW Post 1231, SUNY Canton(Ice and Facility), Knights of Columbus No. 1059, Donaldson-Seymour Funeral Homes, Mac Sports LTD and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley for working collectively to secure corporate sponsorships and donations to help offset the financial costs associated with organizing this year’s tournament and, in turn, helping to lessen the personal costs of each player in attendance by providing them with five meals throughout the weekend.

Thank you to the Knights of Columbus in Canton for hosting the spaghetti dinner on Friday, March 3rd and to Chad, Wayne and Nancy Green for cooking over 30 pounds of pasta that was served to the players, coaches, and families with help from the Canton Blades (U-12) Girls Youth Hockey Team. Thank you also to Josie’s in Canton for providing the salad and Sergi’s for providing sauce and meatballs for Friday night’s dinner.

On Saturday, March 4, teams and families were treated to a Prime Rib dinner hosted by the Edward C. Seymour VFW Post 1231 and cooked by Tim Hunt (Prime rib donated by HAC Tourney and Save-A-Lot). Thank you to the post’s Ladies’ Auxiliary for providing additional side dishes and volunteering as the wait staff for the dinner. Saturday’s dinner also featured guest motivational speaker, Dave Stevens. Dave is a VP at ESPN who was born without legs and shared his experiences playing able-bodied sports in high school before there were adaptive sports. (you can learn more about Dave at www.davesimpossibledream.com) We turned him into a sled hockey player.

The team would also like to thank Kunoco Food Mart, Josie’s Little Pizzeria and Sergi’s Italian Restaurant for providing the fantastic lunch spreads on Friday and Saturday. Thank you as well to A. Cappione, Riverside Liquors, Bessette’s Liquor & Wines, Pepsi-Cola Ogdensburg Bottlers, Pepsi Bottling Group of Watertown, and Mrs. McKenna’s Thursday Bridge Club for providing additional items (Cookies and brownies) served with the team meals. Thank You SUNY Canton for coffee & donuts for Saturday & Sunday mornings. Thanks to Mid-State Golf Cart for display(s) of handicap golf carts & Supporting our Team.

During the lunch breaks on Friday and Saturday, spectators were presented with an opportunity to try out a sled for themselves and skate with some of the players. The Mountain Warriors were pleased to welcome groups of students from Potsdam Central School and St. Lawrence NYSARC who got out on the ice and tried sled hockey for their first time. The enthusiasm and eagerness of the kids as they propelled themselves across the ice was one of the highlights of the weekend and we are so grateful for the chance to get them involved in the sport.

This year’s tournament would not have been possible without the commitment and support of so many businesses and individuals who worked tirelessly for the weeks and months leading to the big event. Thank you to all those who donated their time and talent to make the weekend such a great success. Special thanks to Mountain Warrior Board Members Kellie Hitchman, Lainey Scott, Chad Green, Don Tracy and Hank Ford for all the hours they spent planning the weekend’s schedules, meals, and fundraisers.

Thank you also to VFW Post 1231, Knights of Columbus No. 1059, No.707, and the Girls Scouts (Service Unit 512) who all provided color guards for the opening, closing, and Veteran’s game ceremonies. Thank you also to Rob Larabee and Diane Foote for performing the National Anthems at start of the games.

We would also like to thank the members of the Canton Rescue and Volunteer Fire Department for providing emergency support throughout the tournament and ensuring the safety of all the players and fans. Thank you as well to all our volunteer referees and goal judges(Canton & SLU students) who ensured fair games.

The Fort Drum Mountain Warriors also like to say thank you to the following businesses who sponsored events and game intermissions: Lawman Heating & Cooling; AMVETS Post 4, Massena; Erdman-Anthony, AMVETS Post 262, Colton; Beardsley Architects & Engineers, American Legion Post 79, Massena; County Seat Realty, SeaComm Federal Credit Union, Lewis County Memorial VFW Post 6912, B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge 2074, Potsdam; North Country Insurance Co.; I.B.E.W. Local 910; The Delaney Bay Fund; Structural Associates; Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association; St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union; VFW Post 6338, Gouverneur; Massena Savings & Loan; AMVETS Post 11, DeKalb; Aubertine and Currier; Car-Freshner Corporation; McQuade and Bannigan, Inc.; Mort Backus and Sons; Town of Watertown Fire Department; Tarbell Management Group, LLC and Kinney Drugs. Commercial Press for the flyers, banners, and T-shirts. Also, Thank you to the American Theater, Canton DPW, Coakley’s for providing displays Welcoming Sled Hockey Teams.

The tournament’s success is also due in large part to the success of our silent auction and raffles. Throughout the weekend, spectators helped support the Mountain Warriors Sled Team by bidding on items generously donated by local businesses and individuals. Thank you to Triple “A” Building Center(cooler), USA Hockey, Mrs. Garman for the quilt, Jerry Valade for the sled coffee table, Zach Bogosian, Mike Erizone, and many others(NHL greats) for providing auction and raffle items. A special Thanks to Laurie Howlett and Shannon from Unique Inventions from Peterboro, Ont. For coming and fitting sleds and parts for the players especially Dave Stevens and ESPN for Buying Dave’s sled.

Through event sponsorships, donations, raffles and the silent auction, more than $11,300.00 was raised to support the Mountain Warriors Sled Hockey Team and Warrior Transition Unit. This year’s tournament proceeds will help support the team as they continue to compete in tournaments across the Northeast, as well as support injured soldiers transitioning home to help them pursue athletic competition; for which we are deeply grateful.

In the brief existence of this team, the lives of wounded soldiers and disabled athletes have been touched significantly. We are grateful to see awareness for the sport grow each year and hope we can continue to provide a great tournament to help enrich the lives of these amazing athletes for years to come. Starting up this team and keeping it alive for the last 6 years would not be possible anywhere but the North Country. On behalf of the Fort Drum Mountain Warriors, thank you to each and every individual, business, group, and community member who supported this event; we would not be where we are without you.

We hope you will join us for a game or two during next year’s tournament which will again be held the first weekend of March at SUNY Canton’s Roo’s House. Until then, you can follow the team on Facebook @mountainwarriorsledhockey as they continue to compete in the sport they love.

Mark J. McKenna

Fort Drum Mountain Warriors head coach