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The Army Baden Bruins and the Air Force KMC Eagles hockey teams faced each other May 2 at the SAP Arena in an exhibition match aimed to prepare officials for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation World Hockey Championship.
Playing by international rules and staged for television, both teams were thrilled at the opportunity.
Complete with commercial breaks, new pucks every two minutes and an ice management team for “snow” removal, both the Baden Bruins and KMC Eagles experienced hockey as it is played at the international level.
Ken Robinson, the president of the DPL (Die Players Liga), received a call from IIHF officials asking for his assistance to organize two exhibition matches for the IIHF off-ice officials.
Robinson, who currently plays for the Bruins, said he was thrilled at the opportunity to be part of such a high profile event.
Robinson, who started the DPL back in 2004, has grown the league from 7 to 40 teams in just five years. This would not have happened without the assistance of fellow American and recently retired Army 1st Sgt. Dave Ralston.
Ralston, a seasoned hockey referee, has been the league’s head official since 2005.
Much of his experience came while officiating both the CSCHL and TSCHL college hockey programs. Ralston would eventually work his way to a position in the 2004 Pittsburgh Penguins Training Camp. When asked about the opportunity to work with the IIHF officials, Ralston said, “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The 2010 IIHF World Hockey Championship will be held in Germany until
May 23.
This special tournament will host 16 of the world’s top national men’s hockey teams. All games will be played at either the SAP Arena in Mannheim or the Lanxess Arena in Köln.
For more information about the IIHF World Championships and military hockey, visit www.adleralliance.com.
