Joshua Sweeney Explained
Joshua Sweeney (born June 6, 1987) is an American gold medal ice sled hockey player and Purple Heart recipient who competed in 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia.
Early life
Sweeney's passion for hockey began at an early age, as he played ice hockey during middle school & competed in his high school team. A graduate of Ironwood High School's class of 2005, he shortly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
Military life
In September 2009, Sergeant Sweeney was deployed to Afghanistan for his second deployment[2] [3] as a scout sniper[4] to Nowzad,[5] Afghanistan.
On October 28, 2009, while on patrol duty, Sgt. Sweeney was injured when he stepped on an IED. The blast severed both his legs & caused injury to his left hand & arm. He had to wait 2 hours to be evacuated.[6]
Paralympic hockey career
In 2014, Sweeney joined Paralympic sled hockey team and lost 2–1 to the Russians.[7] Couple of days later, he scored the only goal with which his team won a gold medal in a final against the same country.[8] A native of Arizona, he is divorced and lives in Idaho.[9] He received a new specially adapted home from the Homes For Our Troops non-profit group in November 2014.[10]
Notes and References
- Web site: Pat Tillman's legacy honored at the ESPYs . Orange County Register . 15 July 2014 . 2014-07-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924131846/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sweeney-628966-hockey-tillman.html . 2015-09-24 . live .
- News: Sled hockey's Josh Sweeney to receive inaugural Pat Tillman Award for Service . Team USA . Associated Press . June 25, 2014 . July 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140705145523/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2014/June/25/Sled-hockeys-Josh-Sweeney-to-receive-inaugural-Pat-Tillman-Award-for-Service . July 5, 2014 . dead .
- Web site: Josh Sweeney earns Tillman Award . . . July 2, 2014 . July 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730210535/http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/11133592/paralympic-star-josh-sweeney-earns-1st-tillman-award . July 30, 2014 . live .
- News: Wounded Marine Is a Rising Star in Sled Hockey . Angel Canales . ABC News . July 24, 2013 . July 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140706171842/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/07/joshsweeney/ . July 6, 2014 . live .
- News: Wounded Marine Is a Rising Star in Sled Hockey . Angel Canales . . July 24, 2013 . March 15, 2014 . March 8, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140308035015/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/07/joshsweeney/ . live .
- News: After being injured in Afghanistan, Josh Sweeney finds solace on ice . Joanne C Gerstner . January 9, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140113192003/http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Features/2014/January/09/After-being-injured-in-Afghanistan-Josh-Sweeney-finds-solace-on-ice . January 13, 2014 . dead . July 25, 2014 .
- News: From war to Paralympics, US vets compete on ice . Rob Harris . . March 11, 2014 . March 15, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100919025443/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/war-paralympics-us-vets-compete-ice . September 19, 2010 . live .
- News: Josh Sweeney leads USA to second straight sled hockey gold . . March 15, 2014 . March 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100919025443/http://www.paralympic.org/news/josh-sweeney-leads-usa-second-straight-sledge-hockey-gold . September 19, 2010 . live .
- News: Heerwagen . Art . Skating into town . April 12, 2014 . . April 6, 2014 . April 13, 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124601/http://www.pamplinmedia.com/ht/117-hillsboro-tribune-news/216267-75103-skating-into-town .
- News: Hammill . Luke . Veterans Day: Injured Marine Sgt. Josh Sweeney receives free, wheelchair-accessible home from nonprofit . November 11, 2014 . . November 11, 2014 . November 18, 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20141118073653/http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2014/11/veterans_day_injured_marine_sg.html .
