Leafs salute military ahead of outdoor game in Maryland
With U.S. marines at their practice arena on Friday, a jet fighter parked in front of the game-day stadium and 500 midshipmen encircling the rink on Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs will never feel more safe and secure.
This gave the Leafs and their Saturday night opponent, the Washington Capitals, the ideal way to connect with their hosts and the theme of this Stadium Series game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Leafs coach Mike Babcock invited some of the U.S. Naval Academy’s young personnel to sit near the team’s bench at practice. “Some of the kids I met, they are seniors and going into the marines. We talked about how many times a week they practise, what we’re doing next, about how you get to be an officer when you graduate,” said Babcock.
It struck Babcock to hear the cadets say they considered NHL players “heroes.”
“You think about heroes. There’s lots of different heroes in your lifetime. But people that put themselves in harm’s way to look after you, those are the heroes,” said Babcock. “I think that’s important while we’re here to understand that.
“If you’re a North American, this (Stadium Series game) is more special just because of the men and women who look after you and give you all the privileges in your life by keeping you safe and living in a democracy.”
It was also a time for the Leafs to reflect on relatives past and present who served in their countries’ armed forces.
“My grandparents did and actually I have a cousin right now who is serving in the marines,” said New Jersey-born James van Riemsdyk. “He was overseas and I think he was back and forth a couple of times.
“On my dad’s side, I believe I had a grandparent in the Dutch military (in the Second World War). I’ve seen pictures of him in his uniform.”
American defenceman Jake Gardiner had two grandfathers in the navy in the Second World War and the Korean War. One narrowly escaped death on his ship when he slept through an alarm and made it to his station to find a fire had killed some comrades.
“One of my grandparents is still alive and he’s pretty excited about this game, to have us play in this setting,” said Gardiner. “People who defend our country every day, it’s cool to be in the same area they are.”
A representative of the Canadian Forces will be at the game to participate in the opening ceremonies with the Leafs, who are wearing white uniforms with blue trim as a tribute to the Canadian Navy.