OP_022218

46 | February 22, 2018 | The orland park prairie Sports
opprairie.com
Raptors skate with, raise funds for veterans
Amanda Del Buono
Freelance Reporter
The spirit of giving back
and supporting charities often
starts at an early age.
And the Arctic Ice Arena’s
Raptors recently brought
that spirit to life, supporting
injured military members
and veterans.
The Raptors hosted a benefit
hockey game against the
Chicago Blackhawks Warriors
Feb. 11, with all of the
proceeds from ticket sales,
split-the-pot and raffles benefitting
the Chicago Blackhawks
Warriors.
“Our main goal is to
help the veterans assimilate
back into civilian life,” said
Kathy Jecmen, fundraising
chairperson for the Chicago
Blackhawks Warriors. “The
benefit game helps us to
raise funds and build awareness,
so that we can continue
helping these guys.”
The Chicago Blackhawks
Warriors ice hockey program
offers injured military members
and veterans the opportunity
to play hockey with
their peers in an environment
suited to their needs,
according to its website. The
organization raises funds to
allow the team members to
play and travel at no cost.
“It’s all based on fundraising
and has given these
guys therapy and makes
them feel like they’re part of
a team,” Jecmen said. “It’s
like they’re back in their platoons.”
Jeff Westphal, the Raptors
team manager, organized the
benefit hockey game.
“It’s all about the veterans
and trying to get the team,
our kids, to play with injured
veterans and raise money for
them,” he said.
The event brought together
many people to support the
cause. The Raptors team
The Chicago Blackhawks Warriors’ Justin Wigg (left) and
Cole Spizzirri skate together during the game.
members got engaged to help
sell tickets to raise money
for the Chicago Blackhawks
Warriors. And local residents
and organizations also gave
to the cause.
For example, the Raptors
team parents arranged a bake
sale at the event; students
and hockey players volunteered
their time; and the
Arctic Ice Arena donated the
ice time for the game, Westphal
said.
Lockport resident Jennifer
Kudac attended the event
on Saturday to support her
husband, Paul, who plays
for the Chicago Blackhawks
Warriors.
“It’s a fun thing for [the
veterans] to do, and it’s great
that people come out to support
them,” she said.
Parents were happy to
be supporting the Chicago
Blackhawks Warriors’ cause,
too. Tinley Park resident
Dan Lynch, father of Raptors
player Patrick Lynch,
14, said he had not previously
heard of the organization,
but was excited he and his
The Raptors’ Nathan Gibbons skates Feb. 11 during a game against the Chicago
Blackhawks Warriors at Arctic Ice Arena. Photos by Julie McMann/22nd Century Media
Members of the Raptors present a check to the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors
organization, which helps veterans assimilate back into civilian life.
son had the chance to show
their support once he learned
of it.
“It’s a great cause,” Dan
said. “It’s great how the
guys go and play all the other
teams and get money for
wounded warriors.”
Tinley Park resident
Ron Patenzo — whose son
Vincent, 13, plays for the
Raptors — offered similar
thoughts.
“It’s for an amazing cause
— anything we can do for
the veterans — but it also
gives [the Raptors] the experience
to play with [the
veterans], which is huge. If
they get anything out of it,
it’s what Americans should
do: take care of veterans.”
Other attendees said they
also appreciated the opportunity
to support the organization.
Lockport resident Ben
Johnson coaches hockey
teams at Arctic and wanted
to show some support.
“It’s great to help out,”
Johnson said. “It’s good
for the kids to support the
guys that support and defend
our country.”
Although offering support
to disabled United States
military veterans was at the
core of the event, the Raptors
team management and
parents said they hoped the
young players would gain
even more from it.
“It’s all about the veterans,
but it’s also getting the kids
to play with these guys and
recognize what they have
done for us,” Westphal said.
“We hope that they’ll start
to communicate with the
veterans. They should be
honored and privileged.”
Orland Park resident Theresa
Fields, whose son Jimmy,
14, plays on the Raptors,
said the benefit game was a
great learning opportunity
for her son.
“It teaches him to give
back to the community and
help charity organizations,”
Fields said. “I want to teach
him to give back.”
The Chicago Blackhawks
Warriors are to host their
biggest game of the year
against Chicago Blackhawks
alum March 25 at their home
rink in Mount Prospect.
For more information,
visit chicagoblackhawkswar
riors.com.