Dover Airmen take on NHL veterans

by Airman 1st Class Zachary Cacicia
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

4/15/2014 - NEWARK, Del. -- Many amateur hockey players grew up with aspirations to play professionally in the National Hockey League against the best players in the world. The vast majority will never accomplish this. Airmen from a Team Dover hockey team were however given the opportunity to play against some NHL legends.

The Dover Air Force Base Eagles battled the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni Team as they raised money for the Fisher House Foundation and the Flyers Alumni charities April 12, 2014, at the Pond Ice Arena in Newark, Del.

The Flyers Alumni team is made up of retired NHL players who at one point in their career played for the Philadelphia Flyers. Such notables that participated in this charity game included two members of the infamous "Broad Street Bullies," Bob "Houndog" Kelly, left wing, and Joe Watson, defenseman, both members of the Flyers back-to-back Stanley Cup championship teams in 1974 and 1975. Others playing on the ice included five-time NHL All-Star Brian Propp, left wing, Mark Freer, center, Andre Faust, left wing, Frank "The Animal" Bialowas, left wing, and many others.

"We play a lot of games for charities throughout the area, and we always like to get out to support worthy causes," said Watson. "This is our military and it's nice to be involved, trying to help them out with what they're trying to accomplish."

Through the years, the Flyers Alumni Association has maintained a tradition of giving back to the Delaware Valley community. Charities that have been supported in the past include: St. John's Hospice, Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes of South New Jersey and Junior Achievement of Delaware.

The Eagles played for the Fisher House Foundation. This foundation, which is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. They served more than 22,000 families in 2013 and more than 200,000 since the foundation's inception.

The stands filled up with spectators, raising $2,400 for the cause.

The game itself was not a pretty sight for the Eagles; failing to score during the first period, the Eagles were down 6-0 by the start of the first intermission.

"We are playing against former professionals here, so more than likely we were going to lose," said Jeff Kach, Eagles goalie. "But this is for charity; we are out here to have a good time and raise money for a great cause."

The beginning of the second period started with a Flyers Alumni shooting-fest. They tallied six additional goals until Sam Ernst, Eagles center, slipped one past Scott Shaw, Flyers Alumni goalie. Unfortunately, it would be the only goal the Eagles put on the board.
According to Watson, since 1984, the Flyers Alumni team has only been defeated four times. So it is not surprising that the game would end in an overwhelming Flyers Alumni victory with a score of 21-1.

"This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experience; being able to come out and skate with these guys [Flyers Alumni] that have skated their whole lives and have played professionally," said Matthew Lothrop, Eagles center and captain. "I couldn't have asked for more. Losing or winning, it was all for charity."

This was the last of three charity games that the Dover Eagles played this season. On Jan. 26, $1,130 was raised for wounded Delaware police officers, sheriff deputies and state police officers, in a game that pitted them against the Fraternal Order of Police hockey team that ended in a dramatic 9-9 tie. March 23, saw the Eagles fall to the University of Delaware Blue Hens, American Collegiate Hockey Association men's division 2 team, in a 16-5 defeat that raised $3,200 for the Fisher House Foundation.

With the addition of the $2,400 from the Philadelphia Flyers Alumni Team game, the Dover AFB Eagles raised $6,730 this season for charity.