By Andrew Firestone

Between the two units of the first Battalion, 182nd Infantry regiment, rivalry has always been a healthy way of fostering bonds between soldiers. As the infantry unit of the Army National Guard Battalion prepares to ship out to Afghanistan next Saturday, this rivalry turned to the ice, as the infantry unit faced off against their artillery cohorts in a game for the ages.

However, the RedLeg Gunners, as the artillery team is called, dominated the ice, and defeated the departing infantry team, known as the Grunts 8-2 in a slobber knocker of a bout.

The Grunts, led by Staff Sergeant Mike Fitzpatrick who organized the game to provide donations for their families, were unable to defend against a lightening fast Gunners offence, despite quick skates. In the end, the Gunners dominated the Grunts, who will be chewing over that loss all the way to the Middle East.

The Massachusetts Battalion is one of the active oldest military units in the world, only surpassed by the Swiss Guard  and the Honourable Artillery Company of the British army.