Michigan Upper Peninsula Veterans Hockey Club forward Chris Luoma battles for a puck with a defender from Minnesota during a game Saturday, April 12, at Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — “It’s way more than a game,” said Michigan Upper Peninsula Veterans Hockey Club co-captain Jon French Saturday. “It’s everything that you miss about that, about the military, everything good. You miss the guys. You miss the mission.

“I don’t know how much we were able to pull in for the Copper Country Vets Association, and for local junior hockey association, but all of us come together and play. Even after you rub somebody out in the boards, someone gives somebody a two-hand, it’s hockey, but at the end of the day, we’re all good friends. Kudos to Minnesota. It is an absolute pleasure to step out on the ice and be a part of that often with those guys.”

French’s words are important, as he is one of several veterans who plays hockey in the Copper Country, and across the greater Upper Peninsula. The MUPVHC now has over 40 team members, which shows the level of impact it is having on veterans.

“It’s hard to express how much this team means to every single one of those guys,” said French. “We got some guys going through some hard times, and they’re coming to practice, they’re coming, they’re driving, and they know that when we come to walk here, they’re in a safe place.

“It’s that brotherhood. We get on the ice, everything is gone. It’s the best thing about hockey. We can go toe-to-toe. We can go head-to-head with anybody, and then afterwards, we’ll go have some beverages, go eat pizza, and just have a good time.”

The connection in the locker room and on the ice is invaluable.

“The camaraderie is off the charts,” French said, “just off the charts. You see these guys in there, you look across, every one of them is just going as hard as they can, because they don’t want to be the guy that lets the team (down). (They) go every single shift, all four lines. It’s incredible, just incredible.”

Minnesota Warriors coach Travis Bennett, who would have rather played Saturday night at Dee Stadium against the MUPVHC than stand behind the bench, agreed.

“The real thing here is the camaraderie,” he said. “We have family members. My family came up. I told them all about this last year, and they were so excited. My brother loves it up here, always looking for the Yooper Light. My whole family came up. My three year old’s here, my fiance’s here, my mom’s here, my brother and his girlfriend are here.

“Now this is becoming a thing where we’re starting to bring family and friends to watch this game. We’re hanging off on the ice. The guys are showing up at the Airbnbs the night before with pizza and beer, and we’re joking around, and we’re healing each other as veterans.”

The Warriors are also proud to be involved in the fundraising aspect of the game as well.

“You guys are up here raising money, and you’re not even keeping the money,” Bennett said. 
”You’re giving it back to the community, which is even better. It really meets that mission statement that as the Warriors. We said our mission statement is we turn hockey into healing for our disabled veterans. Well, that’s what we’re doing up here.

“We like to serve our country and our community. We’re coming up here playing a heck of a game, battling three periods. You got the Pep Band playing the Sesame Street song after we celebrate in front of them, and we still can’t beat you. But hey, I’m excited to see the numbers that we raised. It’s everything. Everything Frenchie does, and all these guys do, from raising the money, to the hospitality.”

Chris Luoma, who plays forward for the MUPVHC, also feels it is important to play for a cause.

“It means a lot having all the vets come out, the fans,” he said. “It’s huge, and then the fundraising too, for a good cause. There’s nothing more than that. It means a lot. It’s great to do this for the community, and the local vets and everything, and have guys from outside the area come up. I mean, it’s really incredible.”

For Luoma, playing hockey as a veteran, and getting support from the community is just a natural fit.

“Our community is great, regardless whether you’re a vet or not,” he said. “We’re a tight-knit community. We always have been that way. So having the Pep Band come out, the fans, too, it’s really incredible the support we get. The moment I joined this team last year, I could just feel the local presence right away. It’s unbelievable support. I’m truly honored to put the skates on for this team, and serve the community for a good cause.”

Michigan Upper Peninsula Veterans Hockey Club forward Mike Seratti looks for a teammate to move the puck to during a breakout in a game against Minnesota Saturday, April 12, at Dee Stadium in Houghton. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)