The United States Military Academy is the preeminent leadership institution in the world and has taught some of the most influential leaders of our time. Due to that history and tradition, it attracts teams from the sports world, including the National Hockey League.
Highlighting the most recent trek to West Point is Saturday’s exhibition contest featuring the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils. For the Panthers, it will be their fourth visit to the academy since coming in 2007. The Devils were one of the first two professional teams to train at West Point as they came with the Buffalo Sabres in 1985.
“For it to be out there that the NHL thinks highly enough of West Point to be able to host a game here, it is great for the academy,” said 13-year head coach Brian Riley. “They wouldn’t consider doing it here if there weren’t great facilities, or if there wouldn’t be a great atmosphere at the game, so I think it goes a long ways towards helping us promote the sport. For our fans and West Point Community, it is not an everyday opportunity where you can see an NHL game. To have the game here is a truly neat experience for the entire military installation.”
There is a well-known connection between the U.S. Military Academy and the Panthers’ front office, as the team’s Chairman and Owner Vincent Viola is a 1977 graduate of the Academy. The Panthers President and CEO Matt Caldwell is a 2002 West Point graduate, as well as Eric Joyce, the general manager of Florida’s American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield, Mass.
A total of six different teams have entered West Point for one day or for a full week of training camp to get ready for their upcoming season.
In addition to the on-ice practices and scrimmages, the teams take in cadet life during their visit. They attend team-bonding activities like survival courses, field training and simulations to get a real taste of what it is like to go to school at West Point.
“It is a good learning experience to see what these guys go through every day,” said Panthers forward Nick Bjugstad during the 2014 visit. “We learned how to mentally challenge ourselves through tasks that we had to complete and learn from everyone that is part of this process here.”
“Personally, to be able to tell the story of former players and just to see the appreciation and respect level that these professional athletes leave here with,” Riley added. “It is a feeling and respect for not only our players, but all of the cadets here. For me, it is really gratifying to see the respect level that they now have for the cadets and what they are going to do.”
The organizations also use it as a great opportunity to do some team-building activities with the changes that a team can go through during an off-season.
The teams don’t just take away an appreciation for the military, but have embraced the West Point culture. In their last visit to the banks of the Hudson, the Panthers were gifted a Dress Gray top by former captain Joe Kozlak. Since then, the Panthers have used it as a symbol of dedication and hard work and have handed out the Dress Gray top to the hardest worker after their games.
“It is always interesting to spread the culture of this place and to see how others take it,” said Parker Gahagen. “It is fun to see them embrace what we go through a little bit and to see them pass around the uniform.”
“NHL players are guys that we look up to,” explained senior captain Ryan Nick. “They are the best of the best in the world of hockey, but they are guys that we can relate to. It’s good to learn about their lifestyle and to share our lifestyle with them. They are boys at heart and love this game, and that is why they play it; for each other and for the game itself.”
The tradition started with an exhibition game back in 1985 with between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
“When I talk to the teams I talk about Derek Hines and Thomas Kennedy who are two West Point graduates and Army hockey players that were killed in action,” said Riley. “I have a lot of jobs here at West Point as a coach, but to me the most important job is to make sure that the legacy of Derek Hines and Tom Kennedy live on. I will go to the top of any mountain to tell their story.
“I just think that to be able to tell it to professional hockey players, because I’m sure there was a time that those guys dreamed of being professional hockey players, so to tell their story to these guys really means a lot. I have done it enough to know that it really does make a lasting impact. So, I always look forward to having the opportunity to speak to the teams about both of those guys. I am excited to have the opportunity to do that this weekend with both the Devils and Panthers.”
