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NEWS | Aug. 16, 2013

Former Brooke Army Medical Center wounded warriors picked for 2014 paralympics games

By Maria Gallegos and Robert Shields Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs

Three wounded warriors formerly assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center's Warrior Transition Battalion continue to excel despite their physical injuries.

USA Hockey recently announced that forward Josh Sweeney, defenseman Rico Roman and goaltender Jen Yung Lee of the San Antonio Rampage Sled Hockey Team have been selected to represent Team USA at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia March 7-16, 2014.

"I'm super excited to represent my country in Sochi, Russia," Roman said. "We all have been working very hard here. The other Rampage players have been pushing us to our full potential, so hopefully we can bring home the gold."

Roman, Sweeney and Lee became involved with the sport while rehabilitating at the Center for the Intrepid through a nonprofit organization, Operation Comfort, an organization that works with wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I'm very proud of them," said Janis Roznowski, Operation Comfort executive director.

"They've worked very hard for this. They never miss practice and are so enthusiastic about the game. I believe they fought for their country and now they can play for their country at the highest level of the game."

In two years wearing the red, white and blue USA jerseys, the trio has won several medals and tournament trophies, including a gold medal at the 2012 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship in Hamar, Norway and a silver medal at the 2013 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship in Seoul, South Korea.

"Competing in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games means a lot to me because it allows me to represent the U.S. Army and the United States," said Lee, who is also the first active duty Soldier selected for a U.S. Paralympic winter sports team.

"I just reenlisted in 2012 for another three years, and was given a chance to continue to serve. Before all this happened, I wasn't sure where my career was heading," Lee said.

"When I came here for my physical therapy and rehab at the CFI - and now with hockey - I hoped to make my family and the Army proud."

The warriors will be competing in their first paralympic winter games after being members of the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team for the last two seasons.

Team USA skated to a perfect 5-0-0 record at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C., en route to a gold medal.

"I'm now representing my country in a different way," Roman said.

"Even though I'm not wearing my military uniform, I'm still representing my country in my USA Hockey jersey - hopefully to the fullest and hopefully bringing home the gold."
Sweeney, 26, is a native of Phoenix, Ariz., and joined the Rampage Sled Hockey Team in 2010.

A former high school forward, Sweeney was injured by a roadside bomb in Nawzad, Afghanistan in October 2009, which claimed both legs above the knee. He is a former enlisted Marine.

Roman, 32, is a native of Portland, Ore., and joined the Rampage Sled Hockey Team in 2008. He came to San Antonio in 2007 for rehabilitation at BAMC after a roadside bomb exploded under his vehicle in Iraq, claiming his left leg.

Lee, 26, joined the Rampage Sled Hockey Team in 2009. A former high school goalie, Lee was injured in a motorcycle accident in 2009, which claimed part of his left leg.

(Note: Parts of this article are from a San Antonio Rampage press release.)