927th Reservist Aides Air Force Hockey Team

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn Rhodes
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When Master Sgt. Robert Rais found out he was being sent to Aviano, Italy as part of his annual tour, the reservist's first thought was 'How do I get onto the ice?'

As any dedicated ice-skater or hockey player will attest, finding ice to practice on can be hard. Fortunately for Rais, his love for skating would lead to an international gift that benefitted an entire hockey team.

"When I was searching on the internet for a rink near Aviano, I came across the page for their base hockey team, the Aviano Ice Dragons," Rais said. The Michigan native is the fuels superintendent with the 927th Logistics Readiness Squadron, a reserve unit stationed at MacDill Air Force base, Fla. "I saw their team picture, and their jerseys didn't look too hot."

Rais immediately got on the phone with his own hockey league to see what he could do for the ragtag-looking Dragons.

"I was surprised that the Plymouth canton Hockey Association was so willing to help so quickly," Rais said.

The president of the league was quick to help Rais and the Aviano team. He understands what it means for an Airman to be able to play hockey - his son is on an Air Force team.

"I have a son that is in the USAF stationed at Spangdahlem and he plays on their base hockey team so I was fully aware of the tournament that was coming ... and the issues with costs to participate as an Airman," said Matt Zink, President of the Plymouth/Canton Hockey Association located in Plymouth Mi. "(The association) was able to come up with enough jerseys and socks, home and away to outfit the entire Aviano team. I talked with our board members and it was a unanimous decision to support the donation."

It was a tight timeline to have jerseys made on such short notice. They jerseys were available, but had to be embroidered with the team logo and American flag and delivered to Rais before he departed with his unit to Aviano.

The jerseys arrived just in time. Two days before he stepped on the plane with his unit they were at his door, Rais said. For a unit whose job is to transport material and equipment, the 34 jerseys were in safe hands. In fact, there was already a personal connection between the source of the Jerseys and the Ice Dragons.

"I was surprised to learn that the president of the hockey association's son plays on a hockey team in Germany," Rais said. Airman First Class.Kyle Zink, son of association president Matt Zink, plays for a rival team of the Dragons in Germany and saw his home colors when he attended the hockey tournament.

"Now they don't look like a ragtag team of old guys," Rais said with a laugh. "Jerseys help a team look much more professional and feel good about themselves."

"As a parent of a son in the armed forces, I know the stress that parents of (servicemembers) that serve our country," Zink said. "Knowing that the Aviano team members were excited when they received the jerseys also gave me a great feeling of giving back to those who sacrifice their time and efforts to serve our country. "

The Ice Dragons wore their new jerseys proudly at their tournament, and were grateful to the reservist they had never met who helped make it happen.