U.S. EMBASSY VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
The All-Army hockey team won the gold medal during the Baltic Military Winter Games, held in Lithuania in late January. The team, which included some soldiers from Fort Drum, trained in Watertown prior to heading to the competition.
The first-ever All-Army hockey team took home the gold medal during an international military hockey tournament held in Lithuania.
The team defeated the host nation Lithuania 2-1 in the final of the Baltic Military Winter Games on Jan. 26.
The squad made it to the final by beating Estonia 9-0 and Latvia 8-5 earlier in the competition, held in the city of Elektrenai.
The 20-member team prepared for the tournament during a three-week training camp in Watertown in November and December, which included exhibition games against the Watertown Wolves, a West Point club team and the Canadian Army hockey team.
“It’s an honor we don’t take lightly,” said Capt. Jeffery Fearing, head coach and a forward on the new team, in December. “It’s a responsibility to put the best product on the ice. Any time you have the flag on your jersey, it’s pretty special.”
The team represented a wide range of military specialities and ranks, from private first class to major. A handful of players on the team serve at Fort Drum.
Players on the team had past experience playing top-level intercollegiate hockey, including at West Point, and time playing in junior and professional leagues in the United States, Canada and even the Ukraine.
Video of the team’s training can be seen at http://wdt.me/army-hockey.
