LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB)-- As Jon Atchison calls out drills from center ice, it takes him back to his days in the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I was a troop handler, which is a person who trains Marines after they get out of boot camp," said Atchison, who went on to serve in law enforcement after his service days.
His time on the ice bring back memories of the action, the intensity and the brotherhood of his service. But it also brings up other things he, like many veterans, can't forget. "The images or visions or nightmares," said Atchison.
For many service members, returning to civilian life can be a challenge. Veterans can miss something that often times can't be replaced. The ice is now that place of belonging for members of the Louisville Ice Warriors, a hockey team made up entirely of veterans.
"It's just a way for us to find a new adventure in our lives to get us back to the life we used to have," said Atchison.
He was inspired to create the team while watching the Stanley Cup with his sons. "I saw a team in Michigan that had a veterans team," he said.
And as is the case so often these days, he put a call out for players on Facebook. Overnight, he had an entire team of veterans wanting to join up.
"It's the same as being in the military. You're working toward a common goal, it's fast paced," said William Durkin, who served in the Marine Corps from 2006 to 2014 and now plays on the team.
"Just the brotherhood and the camaraderie of everybody in there. You bleed together, you sweat together, you laugh together, you cry together," said Craig Boyer, who served three years in active duty infantry and then the next 11 years in the National Guard.
As they gear up and head out on the ice, practically every branch of the military is represented. But regardless of rank, they come together as a support system. "We want to keep all the guys on the ice. Just like out in the field, you don't want to leave anybody back there," said Durkin.
Together, they're tackling a new mission.
"They say 22 people a day, veterans, kill themselves and if just one could have been saved by having a group thing like this that he could have participated in, he or she, then I think there needs to be more of it," said Boyer.
This is their inaugural season, which means they're building the team from the ground up. They've got the uniforms and 17 players ready to skate, but hockey is an expensive sport, which means Atchison has paid for a lot out of his own pocket.
"I ended up paying for five or six registrations and four or five jerseys myself," he said.
It's a big investment, but it's worth it because the cost could be much more for a veteran struggling off the ice.
"It's helped me a lot and the problems that I've had and it's helping a lot of these guys too so I'm enjoying it," said Atchison.
The Louisville Ice Warriors will take the ice for the first time on Sept. 9. The team is looking for sponsors and also to add more teammates.
To learn more about the program, visit the team's Facebook page.
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