LI Warriors Host Summer Shootout

As a US Navy veteran, Jeremy Feldman has seen firsthand how impactful the
Long Island Warriors
hockey team could be in the lives of disabled veterans.
Feldman felt disconnected after returning to civilian life in 2010 after serving as a Gas Turbine Mechanic on three deployments. The warrior hockey program helped him to connect with other vets, who could relate to the types of experiences he'd had and return a sense of camaraderie to his life.

"I didn't know what to do with myself," Feldman said of returning home. "Finding this team, everyone knows what you're going through. You go to a therapist, but there's only so much they can tell you. When you talk with someone who's feeling the same way, you have that certain bond."
The LI Warriors program, which is supported by the Islanders, was established to give disabled veterans a sense of camaraderie that is often lacking after they return home from deployment. After starting with about 25 skaters during a try hockey for free event, the LI Warriors have grown to about 60 players, giving rise to a second team. This past weekend the LI Warriors hosted the Long Island Summer Shootout at Northwell Health Ice Center.

"It's amazing how it's finally here after so much planning and everything's running smoothly," Feldman said. "Everyone's happy. The ice times are perfect, everyone is outside having a good time. Perfect weather. So we're happy that everything has been going out without a hitch."
The tournament attracted veteran teams from North Carolina and New Jersey, as well as local police and firefighter teams. While police officers and firefighters may not have the same combat experiences, they're part of a larger public service community and a tournament atmosphere allows for further community building around the game. They're also professions that are natural fits for returning veterans.
"Pretty much all of our team is either healthcare, firefighters or police," Feldman said. "So even after the military, we're still serving our community. So that's how we have that bond. It's just amazing because we all have that same interest, protecting our country and our streets. We have that that common bond and camaraderie as well."
It's a supportive atmosphere, even in competition. The LI Warriors White go up 4-0 before the end of the first period against NCPD F Troop and are firmly in control of the game. When the F Troop goaltender comes up with a solid save, one of the LI Warriors gives him a respectful tap, a show of sportsmanship.
"It's not all about hockey," Feldman said. "You play on the ice for an hour and then that's it. It's more of what's off the ice. How are guys doing? When they go home that's the main thing. When you're on the ice, you're playing, you're focused, you're in your game. But off the ice, that's our main concern. And we want to make sure that everyone's good off and on the ice."

The LI Warriors have home-ice advantage at Northwell, as friends and family ring cowbells every time the Warriors score, but each team brings their own flavor. Two of the North Carolina Warriors take warmups in boonie hats before taking on the LI Warriors Blue squad on Saturday afternoon.
Feldman is happy to see the team and program continue to grow. They practice once a week and are attracting former players as well as introducing new players to the game. Tournaments like this past weekend only help get that message out, both to the public at large and any more veterans that may need a helping hand, but don't know where to look.
"We've gotten amazing feedback, we've saved lives," Feldman said. "There are some guys that came to us and said 'we're in a hole and you guys brought us out. We're human again.' The majority of us are disabled veterans and we've served during war time. We come back and not a lot of people know how we're feeling, how we're doing and you jump on this team and it's an instant family, you can call anyone at any time and someone will answer the phone, someone will meet you. It's a family. And that's, that's the main thing is what we want is to have that."