I met Paul Errico while attending a hockey game in Bridgeport CT. The AHL team, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, honors a “hometown hero”, normally a Veteran, or Policeman. Paul was the team’s military coordinator. Mr. Errico is also a Purple Heart Business owner. While sitting at the Sound Tiger game we talked about having the Sound Tigers become a Purple Heart team.
Mr. Errico coordinated a meeting with the team President, Michael Picker the Webster Bank Arena Team Representative, Sarah Rodrigues, and me, to set up the process to become a Purple Heart Team.
Over the next few months, Sarah, Paul, and I worked together to provide a meeting with the Sound Tigers team. Each player on the team received a gold Purple Heart challenge coin. The team also received a plaque. The arena advertised and set up a game night to honor Purple Heart recipients.
This is the only professional hockey team to receive the Purple Heart Team designation in Connecticut. The process was well coordinated and very well received by the public.
