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46 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2024 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: MIKE CARMO REAL PROGRAMS Warrior Hockey several coaches of hockey programs serving youth with special needs. The coaches offered to help the patients formalize their on-ice sessions, leading to structured practices and several friendly games. The USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program, Inc. ("USA Warriors") was then formally founded in late 2008 as an all-volunteer, non-profit organization whose purpose is to utilize ice hockey programs as part of the rehabilitation of military personnel "wounded in the defense of the United States." The USA Warriors began offering sled and standing hockey programs. The USA Warriors Board of Directors later confirmed that the programs were available not only for injured service members who were patients at Walter Reed, but also for disabled veterans. Warrior programs across the U.S. have adopted local rinks as their own, but ice comes with a price. Some areas across the U.S. do not have many rinks available to conduct practices on a daily basis. This makes it very difficult to gain traction with their programs as a whole and get players more engaged. Funding plays a role in how much a program can afford. Some programs practice every week, others might be once a month. Larger programs in Minnesota, St. Louis, Colorado and Philadelphia have ice on a regular basis. The Philadelphia Flyers Warriors raise funds to pay for ice annually at $35,000 for two practices a week serving 130 Veteran men and women across the tri-state area—Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. The programs do not require any specialized facility modifications, as all are standing disabled. The only modification a lot of programs request is for scheduling quality times for players to attend. USA Hockey provides two national tournaments each year, including the Warrior Classic, which is held every October at various locations across the U.S. It was previously held in Las Vegas but by moving the tournament around the country it allows the programs to host and get recognition in their area through local media. The second tournament is the Warrior National Championships. This was formerly the Disabled Festival, which included sled hockey as well. But due to the growth of Warrior and sled hockey, it was time to separate the two disabled disciplines and have a sole National Championship for each. USA Hockey and the NHL, along with individual NHL organizations, are taking notice of the fastest growing disabled discipline in the U.S. The NHL has had multiple engagements and media releases about Warrior hockey to include some programs with NHL franchise backing, such as Philadelphia, St. Louis, Chicago, North Carolina, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Colorado, Florida, Long Island, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. They are either backed by the Alumni organization or the NHL team itself. If you'd like to start a Warrior Hockey program, USA Hockey does provide a one-time startup grant of $2,000. Please refer to the USA Hockey website and go to the Disabled discipline page under Warrior hockey. J Bill Duffy is a USA Hockey Disabled Section representative. USA HOCKEY AND THE NHL, ALONG WITH INDIVIDUAL NHL ORGANIZATIONS, ARE TAKING NOTICE OF THE FASTEST GROWING DISABLED DISCIPLINE IN THE U.S. p Warrior Hockey is giving injured and disabled veterans a chance to build camaraderie and stay active.