Visual Stories

Photos: Army vs. Air Force hockey game

Call it a friendly rivalry after the final horn sounds, but during the 3rd Annual Army vs. Air Force hockey game, skaters from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson were serious about winning. The game, held Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Arena, was free to the public and drew a noisy crowd. Lt. Col. Alan Brown, who helped organize the event, said it's a chance to bring hundreds of people together for a fun event in a hockey-loving town. "Like anything in the the armed forces, regardless of branch, you want to win. Period. End of story," he said. "Afterwards, yeah, we'll all go out and have a beer and shake hands."

After three periods, the teams were tied at six goals apiece. A shootout took the place of an overtime period, under agreed-upon rules, during which Army sealed their victory. Army Spc. Taylor Francis skated off the ice satisfied, knowing he'd see several of his opponents again in recreation league play. "We know a lot of the guys on the other team, so it's more bragging rights than anything," he said. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bobby Dubinsky, brother of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Brandon Dubinsky, said he was disappointed to lose to a team they thought they had buried in the second period. He knew he'd hear plenty of reminders until next year's game. "It's all year chirping back and forth about it," he said.

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