Rampage don 37th TRW shield on game jerseys

  • Published
  • By Jim Charshafian
  • Rampage Media Relations
Posted 3/9/2012 Updated 3/9/2012 --  3/9/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Wearing specially-designed camouflaged jerseys bearing the 37th Training Wing organizational shield, the San Antonio Rampage professional hockey team took the ice Saturday at the AT&T Center with two goals in mind - win the game and honor San Antonio's service men and women at the ninth annual Military Appreciation Night.

They accomplished both. The team defeated its opponent, the Houston Aeros, 2-1, and treated the military community to an unforgettable event.

The Rampage offered military service members, including veterans, a special $10 ticket for any available seat in the house when they presented a valid military identification card at the box office for the game.

San Antonio has been known as "Military City, U.S.A." for decades because of the many different military bases located in the community. Members from various branches of the U.S. armed forces have called San Antonio home while serving their country in the Alamo City and many men and women have come to town to embark upon a journey that exemplifies bravery, sacrifice and selflessness.

During the game, those same members of the armed forces were able to witness, firsthand, how much their efforts are valued by the people of San Antonio when the Rampage hosted Military Appreciation Night.

"Our commitment to them is to do this every year and create awareness of the sacrifices that they're making on a daily basis," said Ryan Snider, Rampage director of hockey operations.

The military-themed jerseys the team wore were auctioned off after the game with proceeds benefiting Operation Comfort and the Rampage Sled Hockey Team. Last year, the Rampage raised $44,000 to benefit San Antonio's military community and the team has raised more than $180,000 over the past eight years.

Operation Comfort is a nonprofit organization that works with wounded service members coming from Iraq and Afghanistan who are recovering at nearby Brooke Army Medical Center. Operation Comfort runs the San Antonio Rampage Sled Hockey Team, the first team formed that consists of all wounded military service members.

"The money helps them with their travels, ice time and operating costs," said Snider. "It's an expensive sport, so we're able to keep them going. It's something we're really proud of."

The Rampage has also set up events with the team and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in years past.

Last fall, the Rampage organized a team-training event in which players went through the same rigorous exercises that Air Force trainees and special tactics students endure.

"We put these heavy backpacks on during the training and I think I almost fell over and died," David Marshall, Rampage forward, jokingly said. "It was good to hang out with those guys. They're the ones that go out and make it possible for us to live our lives freely."

As for Rampage Military Appreciation Night, Marshall is one of many players who were excited to be a part of the event.

"Events like these put things into perspective a bit. We play a game for a living and these guys are going into battle," said Marshall.