EvanL
12-22-2003, 03:18 PM
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/afghan_cda_hockey_memorial
TERRY PEDWELL
KABUL (CP) - Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan (news - web sites) armed themselves with hockey sticks instead of guns Monday to honour two comrades killed in an Oct. 2 landmine strike, holding a ball hockey tournament in memory of Sgt. Robert Short and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger.
Canadian Press Photo
In the crisp early morning air at Camp Julien near Kabul, members of the Royal Canadian Regiment's Para Company faced off on a small outdoor rink that was constructed specifically for the tournament as hockey celebrities from Canada coached from the sidelines.
"It's good that they had a sort of a hockey rink, it's better than nothing," said former NHL bruiser Dave "Tiger" Williams of the open-air cement playing surface.
"I'm glad that we got a chance to participate in it," he added.
Two Para Company soldiers, Pte. Ian Carnegie and Cpl. Steve Posthumus were instrumental in ensuring the tournament was held in memory of Short and Beerenfenger.
"Because Sgt. Short was such a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan, we wanted to get some sort of a memorial tournament (organized) in both of their names," said Pte. Carnegie of Montreal.
To help out, the Maple Leafs donated 2,000 T-shirts and the Vancouver Canucks gave 2,000 ball caps to help raise money for a Canadian mine clearing organization that's currently working in Afghanistan.
"It doesn't only benefit the charity itself, it benefits everybody that's over here, trying to help out the people of Afghanistan," said Cpl. Posthumus, a native of Burlington, Ont.
"So far they've cleared a 60,000 square foot area (of landmines), and that's 60,000 square feet (5,570 square metres) that is safe to walk on for the troops that are over here."
A number of hockey jerseys, hats, headbands and pins were also donated by Team Canada, the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, the Leafs and Canucks, with many items autographed by Williams, former Canucks goalie Kirk McLean and Olympic Women's Hockey Gold medalist Cassie Campbell.
"By the passion that was displayed in that first game, it's obvious (Short and Beerenfenger) were passionate guys and a big part of this group," said Campbell, who captained the women's team to a Gold medal at the Salt Lake City Games.
"It's good that this is a token to them and what they contributed to our country," she added.
"And it's nice that the guys can sort of at least do something to honour them and remember them."
As of gametime, soldiers had raised several thousand dollars for the mine clearing program, with at least $1,700 coming from a raffle and jersey auction at Camp Warehouse, the smaller of the two Canadian bases in Kabul.
Another auction is scheduled at Camp Julien for Christmas Eve.
In the end, the senior officers' team, in blue Toronto Maple Leafs gear, won the game by a 3-2 score over the junior ranks, who wore the Leafs' white jerseys.
And it didn't take long for Williams and McLean, who helped coach the game, to square off in a tongue-in-cheek feud over whose team was better.
"I think it was the coaching that won the game," boasted Williams, who stood on the senior officer's bench.
"We had a couple bad calls from the referees, as usual," retorted McLean, who spent most of his NHL career in a Canucks uniform.
On a more serious note, McLean said the dedication of the game to Sgt. Short and Cpl. Beerenfenger had a personal impact.
"The whole game and rink was obviously dedicated to the fallen soldiers," he said.
"It hit home with everybody, not just the soldiers."
TERRY PEDWELL
KABUL (CP) - Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan (news - web sites) armed themselves with hockey sticks instead of guns Monday to honour two comrades killed in an Oct. 2 landmine strike, holding a ball hockey tournament in memory of Sgt. Robert Short and Cpl. Robbie Beerenfenger.
Canadian Press Photo
In the crisp early morning air at Camp Julien near Kabul, members of the Royal Canadian Regiment's Para Company faced off on a small outdoor rink that was constructed specifically for the tournament as hockey celebrities from Canada coached from the sidelines.
"It's good that they had a sort of a hockey rink, it's better than nothing," said former NHL bruiser Dave "Tiger" Williams of the open-air cement playing surface.
"I'm glad that we got a chance to participate in it," he added.
Two Para Company soldiers, Pte. Ian Carnegie and Cpl. Steve Posthumus were instrumental in ensuring the tournament was held in memory of Short and Beerenfenger.
"Because Sgt. Short was such a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan, we wanted to get some sort of a memorial tournament (organized) in both of their names," said Pte. Carnegie of Montreal.
To help out, the Maple Leafs donated 2,000 T-shirts and the Vancouver Canucks gave 2,000 ball caps to help raise money for a Canadian mine clearing organization that's currently working in Afghanistan.
"It doesn't only benefit the charity itself, it benefits everybody that's over here, trying to help out the people of Afghanistan," said Cpl. Posthumus, a native of Burlington, Ont.
"So far they've cleared a 60,000 square foot area (of landmines), and that's 60,000 square feet (5,570 square metres) that is safe to walk on for the troops that are over here."
A number of hockey jerseys, hats, headbands and pins were also donated by Team Canada, the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, the Leafs and Canucks, with many items autographed by Williams, former Canucks goalie Kirk McLean and Olympic Women's Hockey Gold medalist Cassie Campbell.
"By the passion that was displayed in that first game, it's obvious (Short and Beerenfenger) were passionate guys and a big part of this group," said Campbell, who captained the women's team to a Gold medal at the Salt Lake City Games.
"It's good that this is a token to them and what they contributed to our country," she added.
"And it's nice that the guys can sort of at least do something to honour them and remember them."
As of gametime, soldiers had raised several thousand dollars for the mine clearing program, with at least $1,700 coming from a raffle and jersey auction at Camp Warehouse, the smaller of the two Canadian bases in Kabul.
Another auction is scheduled at Camp Julien for Christmas Eve.
In the end, the senior officers' team, in blue Toronto Maple Leafs gear, won the game by a 3-2 score over the junior ranks, who wore the Leafs' white jerseys.
And it didn't take long for Williams and McLean, who helped coach the game, to square off in a tongue-in-cheek feud over whose team was better.
"I think it was the coaching that won the game," boasted Williams, who stood on the senior officer's bench.
"We had a couple bad calls from the referees, as usual," retorted McLean, who spent most of his NHL career in a Canucks uniform.
On a more serious note, McLean said the dedication of the game to Sgt. Short and Cpl. Beerenfenger had a personal impact.
"The whole game and rink was obviously dedicated to the fallen soldiers," he said.
"It hit home with everybody, not just the soldiers."