U.S. Marine Corps veteran David Wezniak says playing hockey saved his life. Now, he’s paying that forward by introducing his fellow veterans to the sport and the healing it can offer.
“It’s very rewarding when a veteran comes up to me, pulls me aside, and says, ‘Thank you for everything, you’re my hero, you saved my life.’ Literally, I can relate to that because I’ve been in that situation," he said.
Wezniak, a member of the Jacksonville, Florida Icemen Warriors, lost a close friend and colleague to suicide years ago while the two were on leave from the Marine Corps for the holidays. When he learned of his friend’s death, Wezniak fell into depression and eventually developed post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Literally, I can relate, because I’ve been in their situation,” he said.
When Wezniak left the Marines, he joined a suicide prevention program that uses the sport as a tool to improve mental health. He soon found himself playing hockey, a sport he had played on a frozen pond in his grandma’s backyard in New England.
The experience inspired Wezniak to found the Icemen. Today, he serves as its vice president and director of operations. The team’s mission is dedicated to saving veteran lives through programs to prevent suicide. In its first year, the Icemen raised $2,500 for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that supports veterans and their families.
“I love sharing my story now. Other people can relate. People have to understand we’re all human,” Wezniak said.
The Jacksonville Icemen Warriors are among the teams that make up a national league for injured and disabled veterans and were one of four who recently participated in the fourth annual Veterans Showcase hockey tournament hosted by Navy Federal Credit Union.
“The Veterans Showcase creates a national platform for veteran hockey teams to share their stories and celebrate their talent,” said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Keith Hoskins, executive vice president of Branch Operations at Navy Federal Credit Union. “Moments like this are how we honor the hard work, commitment and camaraderie of our members, the NHL and its fans.”
The Icemen and three other all-veteran teams from around the country – the Colorado Warriors Hockey Club, Lone Star Warriors and Long Island Warriors Veterans Hockey Club – attended a welcome reception and dinner on Feb. 16, followed by the Navy Federal National Hockey League (NHL) Stadium Series games at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where they received a special in-game shout out.
“One of the reasons why we develop such a strong bond in the military, at least in my mind, is a shared common struggle,” said U.S. Army veteran Chris LaValley, captain of the Lone Star Warriors. For this team, that shared common struggle is victory — we’re constantly pushing ourselves, trying to win, to succeed. It just naturally brings the whole locker room together.”
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.