WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — For the 5th year, Hockey Heals 22 is taking over Advent Health Center Ice to raise awareness for veteran suicide and support suicide prevention programs.
What You Need To Know
Hockey teams are playing games for 22 hours at charity event
The Lightning Warriors Hockey Program said the number 22 in the event name is for the 22 veterans who lose their lives from suicide every day
All the proceeds raised from the event are going to the Lightning Warriors Hockey Program, the Malone Family Foundation, and Mission Role Call
For 22 hours, various teams will take to the ice to support the cause.
Retired University of Florida hockey player Tyler Urh, is thrilled to get back in the game. Still, he’s not doing it for the sport.
“This is bigger than the game of hockey,” he said. “This is bigger than any normal situation that I’m in in my daily life.”
Tyler is one of the dozens of players who will play over the next 22 hours to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
Before starting his game, veteran and Lightning Warriors player James Karr wanted to make sure they knew what it meant to him that everyone was here.
“This game matters,” James said. “You want to know how this game impacts lives? It saved mine.”
Sharing the story of how he was about to take his own life, James said it was the playoff hockey game with his team later in the week that helped change his mind and ask for help.
It’s these stories that Tyler said inspired him to play.
“I wanted to take the opportunity to go out here and do something bigger than myself,” he said. “Support a cause bigger than myself and play the game that I love so much.”
The Lightning Warriors Hockey Program said the number 22 in the event name is for the 22 veterans who lose their lives from suicide every day.
All the proceeds raised from the event are going to the Lightning Warriors Hockey Program, the Malone Family Foundation, and Mission Role Call.