Tulsa hockey club raises money to send veterans to national tournament

For the first time in its history, the Tulsa Warriors Hockey Club got an invite to the National Hockey Festival in Minnesota. The team, made up of disabled military veterans, formed a little less than two years ago. "We use ice hockey as a means of therapy and recreation for our disabled veterans," said President Chad Olson.

A Team with a Mission

The Tulsa Warriors practice three times a month, but also spend a lot of time together off the ice. Olson said, "A lot of us stay in touch daily, so that is a big plus especially with things like mental health awareness and suicide awareness."

He said hockey keeps them active and the team atmosphere offers a support system veterans need after leaving the military. "A lot of us that were on active duty, when we got off we lost that camaraderie with our teammates and everything, so this kind of helps build back into that," Olson added.

Opportunity to Compete Nationally

There are Warriors hockey teams all over the country. Once a year the Hendrickson Foundation puts on a national tournament to give these veterans a place to meet and play against each other. This is the first time since the Tulsa club formed that they have been invited.

Olson said, "We were invited to come up and participate in their National Hockey Festival which they encompass all disciplines of disabled hockey." Those disciplines include sled hockey, blind hockey, deaf/hard of hearing hockey, special hockey, standing/amputee hockey, and Warrior hockey.

Support the Team

The Tulsa Warriors got the invite for the national tournament on very short notice and now have less than a month to raise enough money to make the trip. "We estimated it is going to cost about $1,000 a player to go," Olson said. "We have 13 players slotted to go, so right around $13,000."

The team is hosting a spaghetti lunch on Sunday, May 4 at 11 a.m. at the Broken Arrow Veterans Center. The following two weekends they will also be doing garage sales at 101st and Aspen. All of the proceeds will go toward the team's travel expenses. Supporters can also give on the Tulsa Warriors website.