Two steel cuffs rest on both his wrists. The names Major Thomas "TK" Kennedy and First Lieutenant Derek Hines etched on the metal. The names of two soldiers, two U.S. Military Academy graduates, two members of the Army Hockey Family, two American heroes who were killed in action during the War on Terror. Army hockey head coach Brian Riley wears these cuffs to show his passion and make sure their stories are heard.
He often says that he will go to any mountain top to tell their story, and this year Riley has done that and much, much more. The Class of 2021 BEAST was tabbed "Task Force Hines" in honor of the 2003 graduate and four-year Army hockey player. He was killed in action on Sept. 1, 2005, in Baylough, Afghanistan, when a member of the Taliban fired an automatic weapon at him, but Hines was quick to engage and ended the fire fight before any of his soldiers could be taken. Riley spent his summer speaking to the entire plebe class and the Cadet Cadre about 1 Lt. Hines "Hinesy", and describing to them the type of player, warrior, and man he was. To read the full story, Click here.