Boeing, Blues invest in Warrior Hockey program

The St. Louis Blues Warrior Hockey program received a $20,000 donation from Boeing at a special event at Enterprise Center on Tuesday.
The donation will be used to purchase equipment, ice time and support other initiatives with the Blues Warrior Hockey program.

After a team practice on Enterprise Center ice, the Warrior Hockey participants heard from Blues defenseman Justin Faulk, who presented the team with the check from Boeing.

"To be able to come out here and see Boeing's support for the Blues Warrior Hockey program is tremendous," said Faulk, who recognizes the value that locker room camaraderie and teamwork on the ice can provide for military veterans. "I think that's one of the biggest reasons we like hockey as players - you're within a group, it could be 10 people or 15 to 20, but it's a tight-knit group. I think what people miss the most when they're done is the locker room, not necessarily even the game. We like that sense of camaraderie, these guys do for sure, and this provides that."

With the Stanley Cup in town for the week, the Blues Warriors had a chance to take a picture with the Cup before spectating as the Blues took the ice for practice.
"I got lucky to get my picture taken shortly after we won it, but not with this much time (spent with the Cup)," said Greg Burian, a veteran who served eight years in the Air Force and plays right wing and center for the Blues Warriors. "We could get some real pictures - I got to see what was on the inside which was really cool, I had no idea there was that much detail. It's just been amazing. This organization, every time you think it can't get better it does, and today was just another example of that."

Burian has been involved with the program since it first formed in 2020.
"A lot of us didn't serve together, but when we're on the ice we feel that sense of camaraderie again. There's a huge sense of teamwork in the military, and you feel it when you're playing the sport of hockey. It's just been a wonderful experience through and through," said Burian. "I didn't think that when I signed up to do it that it would have this much impact on my life, but I think about it all the time. When I'm not playing hockey, I think about the next time I get the opportunity to be out there with my brothers and sisters. It's just been overwhelmingly positive for me and for so many others."
The organization works to spread awareness for veterans' issues, provides a chance for disabled veterans to support each other, and grows the game of hockey. Veterans at any level of hockey experience are welcome to join the program.
"We are very proud to partner with the St. Louis Blues and the Warrior Hockey program, which is so important for our veterans and their transition from military service to civilian life," said Bob Madigan, Boeing Director of T-7A Red Hawk Supply Chain. "Providing our heroes an outlet to take up or, in some cases, return to the sport of hockey is an incredibly healing opportunity for veterans in our community."

The Blues Warriors will also feature a Boeing logo on their uniforms as the company becomes the team's presenting sponsor.
To learn more about the Blues Warrior Hockey program, visit stlblueswarriorhockey.com.