Gold medal winner returns to where it all began
Tim Jones, member of the 2010 US National Sled Hockey Team and gold medal winner, comes back to where it all began and shows off his gold medal to James Dwyer, DO, Virtua Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. They are joined by Jones’ mother, Ginny Jones, a registered nurse at Virtua Memorial Hospital and Tom Brake, head coach of the Virtua Wings of Steel and a maintenance mechanic at Virtua Voorhees Hospital.
For most of us, hockey season is over. For hockey players, the season is never over. The Virtua Wings of Steel, a Voorhees-based junior sled hockey team, continues to practice during the summer months. And they have former team member, now gold medal winner, Tim Jones as their assistant coach.
A Mount Ephraim, NJ resident, Jones is a member of the 2010 US National Sled Hockey Team and captured the gold medal in the Paralympics Winter Games in Vancouver. The Paralympics is an elite sports competition for those with disabilities and is closely tied to the Olympic Games.
“Without hockey, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” said Jones who has a mild case of spina bifida. “I am happy that I can give back to the team where my sled hockey career began.”
Jones is an assistant coach under head coach Tom Brake, a maintenance mechanic at Virtua Voorhees. “Tim played for the Virtua team for seven years; I knew he had something special from the very beginning. I am not surprised that he won the gold,” said Brake.
Virtua Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer James Dwyer, DO said, “We are proud to sponsor such a great program. It’s wonderful to offer a fun activity to the young people in our region that enables them to compete and learn about sportsmanship.”
Because of Virtua’s sponsorship over the years, the team changed its name to the Virtua Wings of Steel in 2008. The team continues to practice at the Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees. “All of this would not be possible without Virtua’s support,” said Brake.
As one of New Jersey’s largest health systems, Virtua helps people be well, get well and stay well through a comprehensive range of health care services. Services are delivered through three health and wellness centers, three fitness centers, four acute care hospitals, primary and specialty physician practices with more than 240 physicians, urgent care centers, seven ambulatory surgery centers, home health services, two long-term care and rehabilitation centers, 12 paramedic units and a wide range of outpatient services. A leader in maternal and child health services, Virtua delivers almost 8,000 babies a year. Virtua also provides employment and wellness services to 1,700 businesses and corporations. An innovator in clinical and information technology such as electronic medical records, Virtua is recognized for its ground-breaking partnerships with
GE Healthcare,
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the
Fox Chase Cancer Center. It is the official orthopedic provider for the
Philadelphia Flyers. Virtua employs more than 8,400 people and has been honored as the #1 Best Place to Work in the Delaware Valley for seven consecutive years. It is the recipient of the Consumer Choice Award from the National Research Corporation. For more information, visit
www.virtua.org or
www.virtuabroadcastnetwork.org.