Since its inception in 2012, Sticks For Troops has provided hockey equipment for service members deployed around the world.
John Lindner carried his passion for hockey halfway around the world. And even now that he has returned home, he continues to support his brothers (and sisters) in arms who are still serving overseas.
That’s why he started the Sticks For Troops program in 2012 as a way of sending hockey gear to military members deployed overseas. Since its inception, Lindner has sent more than 600 sticks and other pieces of gear to 12 different deployed locations (several have recieved multiple shipments), including Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait and ships at sea.
“It was great to see each Saturday more and more people showing up to play in our pick up games,” said Lindner, who has been deployed to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq during his decorated Air Force career.
The not-for-profit program has received support from youth hockey associations, high school and college teams and even some NHL franchises. According to Lindner, several NHL players have supported the program, including T.J. Oshie, Connor Carrick and Nathan Gerbe.
Now stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, this Air Force staff sergeant continues to support his brothers in arms overseas by selling Sticks For Troops shirts and creating a Go Fund Me page (Gofundme.com/sftturkey) to raise money to buy and send even more equipment.
RoadRunner Rooters Show Their Colors
Army Spec. Lenard Chambers (left) and Sgt. 1st Class Roger Schneider continued to show their support for the NAHL’s Topeka RoadRunners even while on deployment in Afghanistan.
Even though they were deployed halfway around the world, Roger Schneider and Lenard Chambers continued to show their support for their hometown team, the Topeka RoadRunners of the North American Hockey League.
Schneider, an Army sergeant first class, and Chambers, an Army specialist, belong to the RoadRunners fan club known as the Bucket Brigade. They wore their jerseys during some rare downtime in Sharana, Afghanistan, where they were deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, to create a video that was aired as part of the RoadRunners’ Military Appreciation Night.
“It’s all about sending a message to the players back home as these guys continue to take care of business overseas,” said fellow RoadRunners fan Jason Simonsen. “We lover the RoadRunners, and we’re the ones who create the ruckus Landon Arena to get the fans going.”
Troops & Cops Team Up For Kids
Next to his family and his country, Doug Glanert loves the game of hockey.
“He loves the game more than anyone I know,” said his wife, Christine.
“He lives for the NHL, Olympic hockey, college hockey, beer league hockey and the World Junior tournament, just to name a few.”
 Doug Glanert has combined his patriotism and passion for the game to help others. |
In addition to serving his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, Glanert serves his community as a law enforcement officer. He also plays goalie for an adult hockey team called NA Blue that competes in the World Police & Fire Games as well as other tournaments.
When the Glanerts’ first child was born last year he spent the first 53 days of his life in a neonatal intensive care unit. That inspired Glanert to form the organization Troops & Cops for Kids that has local law enforcement face off against current and former service members.
The event raised $10,300 that went to the NICU at St. John’s Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Ill.