Hockey player hopes teams sport patches, support troops
by LISA A. JOHNSON Lancaster/Depew Editor

A Lancaster High School hockey player is taking a shot at raising money for families of soldiers who have died in Iraq.

Johnathon Lumadue, 16, a junior who plays on the schools' hockey team and for the Buffalo Regals Hockey Club, has been named the campaign director in the Western New York area for the "New York State Hockey Players Support Our Troops" patch campaign.

Like many other patches teams have sported to support a cause, the patches Lumadue is selling support troops overseas. Money raised will go toward families throughout the state, primarily to those with young children who lost a parent and who don't have other resources for assistance.

"I know a lot of people have family and neighbors in the service," he said. "It just hit home to a lot of people."

The patches are yellow and-red, 4-inch circles with blue lettering that reads "NYS hockey players support our troops." In the center, an eagle carries two hockey sticks that cross over one another. Patches are $5 each, and at least $4 is donated to the troops' families. The remaining balance is used for the cost of the patch and mailing costs. The patches can be worn on jerseys, team jackets or hockey bags, anywhere they will be visible, Lumadue said.

Lumadue heard about the program in early December through an e-mail received by his mother, Kim, who has been a hockey manager since her son began playing hockey when he was 6. After reading the material, he felt the campaign was something he'd like to pursue.

"We are all very fortunate to be able to live the way we do, attend a good school, play sports - especially hockey due to the expense - and have our family here to support us," he said. "Others are not as lucky. We need to give back to our communities and especially our military troops, as they leave their homes and families to keep us safe."

He crafted a letter that he has presented to area high schools, regional clubs and colleges to gather support. The Buffalo Regals, the first organization to purchase the patches, ordered 1,000 and will have them worn on all uniforms for the 2008-09 season.

Lancaster was the first area high school to order patches, and 60 players at the federation, junior varsity and varsity levels will wear them for the remainder of the season.

Other hockey clubs also have been approached about the program, such as the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League and the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, Kim Lumadue said.

In addition to his mother, Lumadue has recruited the rest of his family - father, John, and sisters, Megan, 18, and Amanda, 14 - to travel to Rochester in April to sell the patches to the Americans. Each family member will dress in a jersey holding a patch.

Lumadue also is trying to get the Western New York High School Club Hockey, Western New York Southtowns High School, Empire West Hockey and Western New York Amateur Hockey leagues on board. The family also has begun talks with the Buffalo Sabres.

Orders already have been received from Depew, Niagara Wheatfield and Starpoint high schools and the Wheatfield Blades.

Because the state has lost 197 servicemen and women since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Charlie Gili of Brooklyn and his family started the program and are working with state Sen. Martin Golden in Brooklyn.

"They are setting up a panel to look into those state families that have suffered the loss of a family member due to serving our country since 9/11," Lumadue said.

Kim Lumadue is proud her son is taking on such a large task.

"He really wants to see this take off in this area," she said. "think it's wonderful. He's very high character. This is just the kind of thing he does."

Those interested in ordering patches can contact Johnathon at 684-3412 or klumadue5@ roadrunner. com.