from Tal Pinchevesky of NHL.com,

After separate deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sgt. Michael Wichmann wasn't expecting to find too many traces of his favorite sport when he reported to Fort Benning in Georgia to serve as a motors instructor. With thousands of servicemen training and working at the famous base, the Michigan-born Wichmann didn't foresee many hockey opportunities in the heart of the south.

The 23-year-old previously was stationed at Fort Benning in 2006 and, except for the nearby Columbus Cottonmouths of the Southern Professional Hockey League, didn't recall much hockey being played. He was pleasantly surprised when he returned in 2011.

"They have two rinks here and one wasn't here in 2006," Wichmann told NHL.com. "So I really was surprised there was a lot of military members here who play hockey. It's not something that you run into on a military base. A lot of guys that you talk to don't even know what hockey is. There are about 35 of us on the Fort Benning team alone."

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