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Blue smashes white 5 to 3 in Falcons hockey scrimmage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mackenzie Richardson
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  It was a chilly night when the Fairchild Air Force Base Falcons, the base's varsity ice hockey team, hit the ice for a fun-filled and competitive scrimmage Oct. 23, at Eastern Washington University's Recreation Center ice rink in Cheney, Wash. The blue team took the victory over the white team, five to three.

The team was split into two separate groups, blue and white, and were ready to play their hearts out for their fans and special guest coaches. Col. Brian McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Christian Pugh, 92nd ARW command chief, coached the blue team to victory. The white team was coached by Col. Mark Sweitzer, 141st Mission Support Group commander, and Chief Master Sgt. David Bishop, 141st ARW command chief.

The Falcons were formed in 2013, and continue to grow. They are comprised of active duty and guard service members, retirees, civilians and dependents from Fairchild and surrounding areas.

The Falcons have played a total of five Blue and White Games and plan to continue the tradition, playing two every season, one in October and one in March.

"The importance of having base athletics, both intramural and varsity, is to build teamwork and camaraderie outside of the workplace," said Master Sgt. Richard Ortega, 92nd Communications Squadron networks operations section chief and the Falcon's vice president. "[Athletics] provide Airmen an external outlet to strengthen their physical pillar and find a common ground between coworkers and individuals around base."

Base varsity sports take it a step further, allowing Airmen to grow in a more competitive atmosphere, added Ortega.

The Falcons are scheduled to head to Las Vegas Nov. 11, to participate in the 2015 Armed Services Hockey Tournament.