Korean Warfare vet, 90, fires up Syracuse Crunch with pre-practice speech (video)

Syracuse, N.Y. — Leonard Graf celebrated one other birthday on Tuesday, and a day later he obtained what he described as the perfect birthday current of his life.And that’s actually saying one thing, since Graf is 90 years outdated. However the Syracuse Crunch discovered a manner so as to add a particular twist to the occasion.The Crunch has named Graf, a Syracuse native, honorary captain for its Navy Appreciation Night time recreation in opposition to Belleville on Friday on the Warfare Memorial. Graf served within the Air Pressure and fought three years within the Korean Warfare.”That is No. 1 (on the all-time present record). It’s an actual nice honor,” he stated of Syracuse’s tribute.Syracuse requested Graf, a lifelong hockey fan, to make a brief speech to the staff earlier than follow on Wednesday. He recounted his love of the game and expressed appreciation to the Crunch, now in its 26th AHL season, for retaining it alive in Syracuse. He additionally reminded the gamers to not hesitate going into the soiled, bodily areas throughout video games.When he was performed Syracuse defenseman Luke Witkowski offered Graf with duplicate camouflage jersey that the gamers will put on on Friday.Graf is No. 90, naturally.Lindsay Kramer | LKramer@Syracus Syracuse Crunch defenseman Luke Witkowski presents a particular camouflage jersey to Korean Warfare veteran Leonard Graf within the staff’s locker room within the Warfare Memorial. (Lindsay Kramer | [email protected])“How about that? That’s actually one thing. That is beautiful,” Graf stated of his jersey.After the presentation, Syracuse goalie Mike Condon gave Graf a behind-the-scenes tour of the Warfare Memorial.“It’s superior. It’s all the time nice to get a dose of perspective from older generations who’ve sacrificed a lot for this nation,” Condon stated. “I feel generally we lose perspective on how fortunate we’re. We get to dwell in a rustic as free and as democratic as we do and have the chance to come back out right here and play one thing that we love. It’s due to generations like that who’re in a position to present us alternative for it. So it’s been very humbling and an amazing honor.”Regardless that the Warfare Memorial seems to be loads totally different than his period, the constructing is acquainted turf for Graf. He was among the many unique group of buyers to carry the EHL’s Syracuse Blazers to city in 1967. He continued to be concerned with the franchise by means of the 1970s in varied roles earlier than the staff folded in 1977.“I believed it (professional hockey in Syracuse) was performed once we have been performed. We tried getting different folks to be stockholders and all that. They favored the sport however they didn’t need give you the inexperienced,” Graf stated. “I misplaced a ton of cash, sincere, simply making an attempt to maintain the staff alive and preserve them right here. Finally, you’ve received to fold.” Graf typically involves Crunch video games as a fan and he’ll take the Syracuse hockey middle stage on the ice Friday when he drops the ceremonial first puck.“I’ve a lot respect for these guys. I all the time respect doing these (ceremonies),” Witkowski stated. “(To) get to honor him and provides thanks for what he sacrificed and what he gave up in his life in order that we will dwell the way in which that we do. It’s nice.”Lindsay Kramer | LKramer@Syracus Syracuse Crunch gamers pose with Korean Warfare veteran Leonard Graf within the staff’s locker room within the Warfare Memorial (Lindsay Kramer | [email protected])Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. High quality native journalism has by no means been extra necessary, and your subscription issues. Not a subscriber but? Please think about supporting our work.