A local veteran will take to the ice at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday to raise awareness about the “Sled Preds.”
They're a team that has overcome obstacles to continue playing the sport that they love.
Joseph Woodke said, “Being injured in combat it’s nice to have that competition again and half of the players on our Sled Preds are all wounded veterans so to have that brotherhood back and to have that community and comradery is pretty nice.”
The 26-year-old was deployed twice to Afghanistan.
During his second deployment with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, he was injured by an explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Woodke said, “We were doing a raid on a Taliban controlled village and as soon as the sun came out we picked up and we were moving through a cemetery when I stepped on a 20 pound IED, improvised explosive device, with a pressure plate trigger. They instantly amputated both of my legs then I was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda where I did my army rehab and I was there for about a year and four months.”
After rehab Woodke moved to Michigan and once the snow became too tough to navigate, he moved to Nashville.
Last year he joined the “Sled Preds” and he’s hoping he will get invited to tryout for the US Paralympic sled team.
Woodke said, “So if you have any type of disability or anything and you still want to play hockey and get out and compete you can come play for us and still have a chance to be on the ice and be competitive.”
On Sunday Bridgestone Arena will be open for 24 hours straight as different groups take to the ice.
Woodke will skate with his team at 8a.m. Sunday.
Woodke said, “On Sunday we’ll have all three of our teams, the two adult teams and our children’s team out there. We’re just guna mix it up a little bit and have some fun! And be able to play where the Predators play out on Bridgestone and get to experience what it’s like to be on the NHL ice.”
The “Sled Preds” are looking for volunteers and players, you can find more information by clicking here.
Tickets can be found by clicking here for the 24 hour skate event at Bridgestone.
