Rhode Island National Guard "General's Cup" Hockey Tournament - Air Takes Army 6-5 in Double Shoot Out!

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt Janeen Miller
  • 143 AW/PA
05/25/2013 --  On a drizzly, unseasonably cold Saturday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend members of the Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard suited up in their hockey gear for a riveting game of hockey! The General's Cup, a charity game played each year, was played this year to benefit United States Marine Corps Corporal Kevin Dubois, a native of Lincoln, RI who was wounded in battle, via Homes for Our Troops.

The teams were comprised of members of the RI Army and Air National Guard from members of the Student Flight to 30+ year veterans. Team members left their rank on the bench and took to the ice. Corp. Dubois dropped the puck at center ice and the game was ON!

The game was tight throughout all three periods. The Air Guard, trailing by one goal, tied it up minutes before the final buzzer of regulation play. Due to time constraints the teams were forced to a shootout to determine the winner. However, at the end of the first five player shootout the game was still tied! Major James Couture, a pilot from the 143d Airlift Squadron and the Air Guard goaltender, stopped the last Army Guard team member from scoring and the cup went back to the blue!

Team members from both sides of the line were very grateful for the outstanding turnout of family and friends from both services. The stands were full! Through an admission donation and raffles over $3000 was raised for Corporal Dubois. At the end of the day the game was all about good, clean fun, charity, and maybe a little bit of rivalry between the services...

See you on the ice next year!