The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild today announced the team will host Military Appreciation Night on Tuesday, Oct. 24, when it hosts the Edmonton Oilers at 8 p.m. Nearly every element of the game will honor the men and women who have bravely served in the Armed Forces and their families, including the following:
• A Joint Honor Guard featuring personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines will present the colors for the game.
• Lieutenant Colonel David Daubert, who retired as a Cavalry and Armor Officer after 27 years of service in the U.S. Army, will be the Guardian of the Game.
• Staff Sgt. Kjarra Wymore, a decorated member of the Minnesota National Guard, will make the Let’s Play Hockey! announcement.
• Greg and Lisa Hungiville, who own 60 years of combined service in the Minnesota National Guard between them and each served tours in the Middle East and have since founded a chapter of the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance for Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota to assist veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and EMS personnel, will be honored as Community Heroes.
• A group of Vietnam War veterans will be honored on the ice during the first intermission.
• A veteran will be surprised with a road trip with the Minnesota Wild this season. The veteran will be identified in-arena during the second intermission.
• Minnesota Warrior Ice Hockey will be the beneficiary of the Split the Pot Raffle and will sell Wild game programs. The Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey Program operates with a core mission rooted in charity and education. We support United States Military personnel, including wounded, injured, or disabled veterans. As the sole USA Hockey Disabled Warrior program in Minnesota, our primary goal is to facilitate the reintegration of our veterans into civilian life.
• The following organizations will be featured throughout the Xcel Energy Center concourse: Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey, Minnesota National Guard, Magnus Veterans Foundation, Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), Saint Paul Vet Center, VA Hospital, Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs, Minnesota Family Assistance Center, and Soldier’s 6.
• A Military Appreciation ticket pack is available for purchase and includes a Minnesota Wild Military branded hat. A portion of each ticket pack will go back to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. Tickets can be purchased at wild.com/ticketpack.
(info courtesy of Wild)
