NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION -- The stands at the Harbor Center in Buffalo, NY were filled with military-style haircuts, while children wearing camouflage eyed the Army and Air Force jerseys on the ice. Friends, family and members of Bill Sager’s military family gathered on Saturday September 10th, 2016 to pay respects to Sager during the 3rd Annual William C. Sager, Jr. Air Force vs. Army Memorial Hockey Game. Sager passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained during an assault in 2014.
To all that knew him, Bill Sager was a great guy. He was a good friend, he enjoyed his military service and his career, first as a crew chief and secondly as one of the first Remote Pilot Aircraft Sensor Operators in his unit. He was passionate about the Buffalo Sabres—and he loved hockey.
It was Sager’s love of hockey that led friends and co-workers to decide on a memorial hockey game to honor him. The hockey game was initially twofold, according to Sager’s longtime friend and Air Force co-worker, Tech. Sgt. Anthony Re, RPA Sensor Operator, 107th Attack Wing, 136th Attack Squadron.
According to Re, who is a board member of memorial game, the reasons for holding a hockey game were, initially, to raise funds to support the medical costs Sager’s family was incurring due to his hospitalization. Secondly, the hope of the game is to keep Bill’s memory alive. The game is now held annually as a way to raise funds for local veterans.
“It’s going to do nothing but get bigger and better,” said Re of the game.
The planning board is already at work on how to help reach Re’s goal of bigger and better.
“We’re trying to make a tournament out of it,” said Lt. Col David Warnick, Commander, 136th Attack Squadron, 107th Attack Wing. “The Army, Navy and Marine Corps have shown interested. Wounded warriors have expressed interest.”
The Air Force Team is comprised of about half 914th Airlift Wing members and half 107th Attack Wing members. Warnick hopes to keep it that way as a way to facilitate members of both units participating in a joint activity.
Warnick is a board member as well as the coach for the Air Force team. Army beat Air Force, 3-1, for the first time in the history of the memorial game.
“I want it to be a privilege to play in this game,” said Warnick. “It’s not about winning--it’s about celebrating Bill’s life and helping a good cause.”
This year’s event raised $3.000.00.