Marine Corporal Joey Woodke has earned a gold medal for the second year in a row. On Saturday, March 12, Cpl Woodke and the U.S. Sled Hockey team won gold in the 2022 Paralympics with a 5-0 victory over Canada. Cpl Woodke got an assist in the second period. The team took home gold at the 2021 World Championships in the Czech Republic last year.
Cpl Woodke, who received his Homes For Our Troops home in 2020, lost both legs while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. He started playing sled hockey during his recovery. “I’ve always loved competing and being a part of the best. Coming from the military; I love the camaraderie side of it,” he says.
This is the fourth consecutive year the U.S. Sled Hockey team has won gold at the Paralympics. Several other HFOT Veterans have been on the team in years past, including Marine Sgt Joshua Sweeney, Marine Cpl Luke McDermott, and Marine Cpl Paul Schaus.
Read a full recap of the championship game here.
Watch Cpl Woodke and the team receive their gold medals in the video below!