Charleston, SC: The Military College of South Carolina, also known as the Citadel has planned a tour of the United Kingdom with a USA Military ice hockey team made up of players from the Citadel and the United States Naval Academy. The teams will play four professional teams in Scotland and England. The team will be landing in Edinburgh, Scotland, and will take on the Kirkcaldy Kestrels on December 29. They will also play the Murrayfield Racers on New Years Eve before travelling to Sheffield, England for a game agains the Sheffield Steeldogs on January 3rd before finishing up with a game in London on the 4th with a game against the Romford Raiders.
The idea was first floated after the Citadel and Navy met in the Outdoor Classic winter game played at Hersheypark Stadium, in Hershey, PA. Citadel coach Ed Courtenay asked Karl Buchanan, a Citadel grad (class of 86) and hockey booster if he thought a trip to Europe could be pulled off, as a way to top the Outdoor experience. Coach Courtenay had a lengthy career in professional hockey as a player and coach in both North America and the United Kingdom, including 44 games with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks. Many of the coaches of the teams that will be faced on the trip either played with or for him.
The idea went from concept to to planning and announcing it in about four months. The biggest hurdle was getting The Citadel Alumni to back the plan. The trip is being funded by The Citadel Alumni, a major corporate sponsor, jersey sales and donations from friends and family. Approximately $40,000 has been raised so far. Donations are still being accepted and can be made at the Citadel Bulldogs website. The jerseys can also be seen at the website and were designed by the Courtenay’s and the Buchanan’s.
As mentioned previously, Ed Courtenay will be coaching along with help from Navy’s Mike Yff. Also making the journey with the team will be Darci Buchanan and Laurie Courtenay, who are in charge of travel and entertainment. I, Don Haas, will be travelling with the team as a photographer and writer for Pro Hockey News, as well as approximately thirty family members and friends.
Expectations are as follows: be cadets and midshipmen first, represent our country, academies, family and friends, and of course….to win!
While the main focus is on the games, there will also be plenty of other fun including a trip to Stirling Castle and the National Wallce Monument in Scotland where William Wallace defeated the English. Everyone on the trip will also get to experience Hogmanay, which is the Scottish version of the New Years celebration while in Edinburgh. There will also be time while in Sheffield and London.
This trip is not intended to be a one and done event, as the goal is to go to other destinations overseas. It is also the goal to involve all of the service academies, not just The Citadel and The Naval Academy.
In the coming weeks, I will be providing additonal coverage including rosters and some thoughts from the players, as well as coverage of the games and other activities while in the United Kingdom.
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