McKenna: How hockey helps heal Veterans through Warrior Hockey

We all have moments that we look back upon and think: “That changed my life.” For me, this past weekend in Philadelphia was one of them.

The 2021 USA Hockey Warrior Classic took place Nov. 4-7 at the Philadelphia Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees, New Jersey and featured 27 teams comprised of disabled military veterans from all over the United States, with the Flyers Warriors serving as hosts.

To be eligible, USA Hockey required all players to be veterans or current members of the Armed Forces, while meeting a minimum disability rating. Warrior hockey is rapidly growing – teams are cropping up all around the United States. Seven tiers exist, organizing dozens of teams based on ability and experience.

This past summer, I was asked by several close friends that play for the St. Louis Blues Warriors to help coach the goaltenders. It seemed like fun and a great chance to give back, so I agreed. It was the right thing to do. What’s one hour of time per week?

Ever since, I’ve been waking up early on Tuesday mornings and heading to the rink.

Some of our Blues Warriors had never held a stick until a year ago. Many of them are beginners in the truest sense of the word. There are struggles learning a new sport in adulthood, especially one like hockey that has so many intricacies. Skating isn’t easy. Handling the puck is even harder. And then there’s the rules. Even something as simple as offside can be tough to process when you have a million other things going through your head.

But our players work. They take orders. They say “yes sir!” and “thank you!” profusely. It’s truly a joy being on the ice with them.

When I found out our team was in need of coaches for the USA Hockey Warrior Classic, I knew I needed to be there. Even though I’d spent the majority of my time on the ice with the goaltenders, I was happy to go behind the bench and help keep the lines rolling.

The Blues Warriors are divided into four teams: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. I was assigned to Delta for the weekend. And since my primary focus has been the Blues Warriors goaltenders, I had yet to form a personal relationship with many of our team’s players.

That changed immediately.

I walked into the locker room for our first game about a half-hour before puck drop and the music was blaring. It was 8:00 a.m. and almost all of our players were fully dressed.

I played professional hockey for 14 seasons. I can’t remember being part of a team that was so anxious to play.

Delta had been practicing for over a year preparing for this moment. They’d scrimmaged teams in the St. Louis area, but had yet to play against other Warriors. This was a huge moment. They’d worked so hard to get to this point.

We got clobbered.

There were times on the bench where I thought we might implode. Players started giving each other a hard time. The referees inevitably took some heat. But between periods, I made certain our team understood one thing: We were there to have fun. And we weren’t going to have fun if we spent time focusing our energy on things we couldn’t control.

Our mindset flipped. We stopped looking at the scoreboard and started counting the little victories. Our players learned how to track back through middle ice in the defensive zone. We started chipping pucks to speed. Our goaltender’s confidence grew with every save.

We became teammates.

It was amazing to watch them grow as hockey players. They made discoveries about themselves and the sport over the course of the weekend. But there was so much more to this tournament.

Because Warrior Hockey is actually a support group.

The hockey aspect is fun. For the players, it’s a new challenge that provides a sense of team and purpose. Winning is always the goal, but the camaraderie is what matters most.

I spent a lot of time with our players over the weekend. In the locker room. Riding to and from the rink. At dinner. I discovered so many parallels between military life and professional hockey. We know what it’s like to walk into a room full of strangers and build an instant bond. We know how to work together to achieve a common goal.

But no matter how many similarities exist, I’ve never experienced what it’s like to be shot at during times of war. Or what it’s like to survive a helicopter crash. Or how it feels to be blown up by an improvised explosive device. Or watch a friend die in combat. Or find out yet another fellow veteran has committed suicide.

Our veterans have seen the worst parts of humanity and they’re forever saddled with those memories.

And that’s why Warrior Hockey is so important.

The players need each other. When things are tough, they support one another. Time spent in the locker room and on the ice around friends that have shared similar experiences is cathartic. Pulling on the same jersey is familiar to them. It’s comforting.

This weekend I heard so many stories of how Warrior Hockey has given players a sense of purpose and belonging. Transitioning back into civilian life is not an easy process and some veterans struggle to find their place in society. Many suffer from depression and bear the burden of survivor’s guilt.

Walking into the locker room lets them know they’re not alone. That people care and value them. That life is worth living.

There was an interesting mood in the locker room when the tournament was over. Our players wanted to win. They’d worked incredibly hard over the past year, and were disappointed to not reach their goal.

But they were proud. They improved. And they all knew how important it was to be there supporting one another.

As players began taking off their equipment, Bill Southers, a defenseman and veteran of 16 deployments, stood up. Tears welled in his eyes. He looked around the locker room and told us how dark life was before he started skating with the Blues Warriors. And then he told us it saved his life.

I can’t describe how heavy that moment was. A man of great pride, tough as nails, allowed himself to be vulnerable. Knowing that it was a chance to say thank you. An opportunity to show the difference teammates can make.

Everyone rushed to hug Bill. Tears were shed. Even now, I’m crying thinking about it.

That’s what Warrior Hockey is all about.

I asked Bill if he was comfortable with me sharing this story. It was a private moment, but Bill was happy to lend his name to this piece because he felt it might help someone down the road.

When we talked, Bill told me he’s traditionally been a very reserved person. That he’s kept a lot of things inside for a long time. But in that locker room moment, he felt it was the right time to open up and share. And he plans on doing more of it in the future.

I’m so glad he did. I went to Philadelphia expecting to have some fun, share stories, and get to know our Blues Warriors on a personal level. That happened and then some.

The USA Hockey Warrior Classic was a life-changing experience, proof that hockey can help heal our strongest, those who keep us safe on a daily basis. These brave Americans have given so much of themselves and deserve all the support we can give in return. #HockeyHeals