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Brendan served 4 years in the Marine Corps as a Military Working Dog Handler, stationed aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. He was honorably discharged in 2019 in immediately turned back to hockey after a four year hiatus. He started playing hockey soon after he could walk and played through high school. After leaving the service he found several local men’s leagues and eventually found himself playing for Quincy College in their inaugural season. Brendan is one of the founding members of R2P and has been on board since inception. He took became President of the organization in August of 2024 after excelling in his roles as Director of Hockey Operations, then as Vice President. His passion to help veterans, stay involved in the veteran community, and to incorporate his love for hockey drives him to ensure Rucks 2 Pucks operates at the highest level and serves the veterans and families that rely on it.
Tony Barnardo is an 8 year Navy Veteran who served as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate with VFA-154, completing two deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In 2008, he was selected to serve onboard the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, USS Constitution, in Charlestown, MA and was honorably discharged in 2011. He’s currently a student at Nichols College, pursuing a MBA, and also helps coach his daughter’s youth hockey team in Worcester. Although he didn’t play organized hockey growing up, Tony’s a big fan of the sport. Utilizing the combination of hockey and camaraderie he’s missed since leaving the service as an effort to combat veteran suicide, joining the Rucks 2 Pucks team was an easy decision for him.
Dan, a retired Air Force Technical Sergeant with a distinguished career in Air Transportation as a 2T2 hazmat inspector, served in the 58th Aerial Port Squadron, 439th AW at Westover ARB from 2007 to 2020. He deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan, from February to September 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He developed a passion for hockey while coaching his daughters in 2019, finding fulfillment in fostering the growth of youth hockey, especially for girls. Now, as a dedicated board member of Rucks to Pucks Foundation, he cherishes the camaraderie, social gatherings, and team-building activities that bring back the aspects of military life he values most. Being part of R2P enables him to continue serving and supporting the hockey community with the same fellowship that once shaped his military experience.
Luke is a Marine Corps veteran who served as a flight equipment technician before being medically retired in 2018. During his time in the Corps, Luke's love for hockey took a backseat, but he played the sport his entire life before enlisting. After leaving the military, he found himself missing the brotherhood and team aspect of the Marines. However, he rediscovered that sense of camaraderie and brotherhood through playing hockey with his fellow veterans. Rucks 2 Pucks has also helped him achieve another passion of his which is helping veterans.
Kohen served in the Marine Corps as a Tactical Network Engineer and Defense Message System Technician. He was honorably discharged in 2007. He learned to play hockey as an adult and found the team and locker room antics reminded him of the military commraderie and esprit de corps he left behind duty. Through social media he found veterans across New England with a similar perspective and decided to take action and found Rucks To Pucks. After almost 2 years as President, Kohen decided to step away from R2P and pass his duties to the rest of the Board. Kohen's vision and ability to get things done set the standard that is still upheld by the Foundation.