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Military Matters: U.S. - Canadian Forces Face Off In Hockey Game

Story Published: Apr 18, 2012 at 4:13 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 18, 2012 at 7:03 PM EDT

From the battlefields of World War II to the mountains of Afghanistan, when the American military fights, it has been shoulder to shoulder with its Canadian counterpart.

But last week, allies on the battlefield became adversaries on the ice as the Fort Drum club hockey team took on the soldier athletes of the Canadian Forces Base in Kingston, Ontario.

It was certainly an exciting match-up.

"I never thought in my life I'd have a game across the border, especially representing the United States Army and the United States as a whole," said Specialist John Laurnsen of the 10th Mountain Division's 2-10th Brigade Support Battalion.

Even the 10th Mountain division's commanding general getting in on the action.

"It was a close game, we ended up losing 8 to 7 but it was a great game and a lot of great competition between hockey players," said Major General Mark Milley.

Hockey players who balance their duties as soldiers with love of the game.

"It's a way where we take all the stresses from being in the Army from being in the field and we can let it out. It's creative, fun, and it builds team cohesion," said Laurnsen.

And that's what this match was really all about - building the relationship between the American and Canadian armed forces.

"They're trying to draft us on for some other sports, get a little basketball, baseball, and we're trying to expand this throughout the next couple of years," said Colonel Stephen Cadden, commander of Canadian Forces Base, Kingston.

Fort Drum's hockey team

If you have a story you think we should be covering for Military Matters, e-mail Katie Alexander at kalexander@wwnytv.net.

 

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