九色视频 鈥 When the Delmarva Warriors hit the ice, they focus exclusively on hockey. But there鈥檚 much more to the group of around 30 veterans and friends than just launching the puck in the net.
Chris Koch, co-founder and president of the ice hockey squad made up of veterans from the area, says hockey is just a third of the group鈥檚 purpose. Community outreach and veterans awareness drive the mission of the Warriors.
The ultimate goal, Koch says, is to gather a group of high-character people together, giving them a healthy outlet to connect with other veterans. At its core, the Warriors team exists to facilitate those relationships.
鈥淗ockey鈥檚 the conduit,鈥 said Koch, an Air Force veteran of over 20 years who served as a loadmaster.
The Delmarva Warriors, launched in 2024, are an affiliate of , a national nonprofit created in 2008 to rehabilitate wounded and disabled veterans. The Delmarva squad practices at the Easton ice rink and plays games against adult league teams in the region, including some tilts at the Wells Fargo Center, home to the Philadelphia Flyers.
At a recent practice in Easton, a handful of Warriors spent an hour on the ice, honing their skills while smiling and exchanging jokes.
Chris Slavin, 50, served in the Marines from 1993 to 1999. He joined the Warriors around a year ago and said it鈥檚 a group of like-minded guys who share similar humor given their military backgrounds.
Slavin pointed out that young soldiers face a huge shift in life pressure and expectations when they return from service.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e young and you鈥檙e in the military, so much of your life is being and working with people,鈥 Slavin said. 鈥淎nd when you get out, all that changes.鈥
The games are one of Slavin鈥檚 favorite parts of being on the team. Slavin said it鈥檚 鈥渋mportant for men to compete,鈥 and the contests are an outlet for veterans like him.
David Sheilds, the team鈥檚 assistant coach, isn鈥檛 a veteran, but he has multiple family members who are. And the mental and physical health of veterans is a personal topic for him, making the mission of the that much more important.
Sheilds had two friends who died by suicide after their service in the Marines. 鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 adjust. Hockey is a passion, I got military family, background and friends. So it just kind of hits home,鈥 he said.
On the ice
During the recent practice in Easton, Sheilds led the team through passing drills before a light-hearted elimination shootout to end the night.
Sheilds focused on bridging the skill gap of the team and ensuring teammates know one another鈥檚 strengths 鈥 the Warriors accept all veterans regardless of skating abilities. With the passing exercises, he emphasized communication and timing.
鈥淚 really wanted them to understand the pace, and understand that not everybody鈥檚 the same level that they鈥檙e playing with,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o they have to look up and make a smart decision.鈥
Even with the low-pressure environment, the competitiveness of the team isn鈥檛 lacking, part of why Sheilds and other coaches are constantly aiming to set the team up for the 鈥渂est chance of success in the game,鈥 he said.
Co-founder and director Michael Hickey, who also co-founded USA Warriors Ice Hockey, said the veterans on the team 鈥 from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia 鈥 have a passion for hockey.
鈥淭hey all love the game,鈥 Hickey said.
The squad has increased its community partnerships and outreach in recent months, Hickey and Koch said. Next month, the Warriors are facing off against Milford, Delaware-based Mispillion River Brewing鈥檚 team. In March 2026, the Delmarva Warriors plan to host a tournament made up of fellow Warrior teams right in Easton.
鈥楬ockey is a family鈥
Members of the Delmarva Warriors say ice hockey is the perfect sport for veterans to have a competitive outlet on the rink and a group of friends to lean on off the ice.
鈥淒uring a game, everybody鈥檚 messing with each other. Hockey is a family,鈥 Sheilds said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 care what anybody else says. It鈥檚 a family thing. It鈥檚 one of the most close-knit communities on Earth, I swear, it really is. And it鈥檚 so big yet so small.鈥
Paul Sullivan, a Marine veteran, said being on the team is all about having a 鈥済ood time.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a distraction. We鈥檙e not good enough to actually think about hockey,鈥 he said jokingly.
Sullivan, who鈥檚 had four back surgeries, found his outlet with the Delmarva Warriors. At the end of practice, Sullivan gave his service dog, Sal, a chance to enjoy some time on the ice.
He encouraged other veterans to find their outlet as they deal with the pressures of society and physical and mental health challenges.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always an outlet,鈥 he said. 鈥淔ind something that can put a smile on your face. 鈥 It doesn鈥檛 have to be hockey. It can be anything.鈥
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