This June 21-22, Mission Roll Call is proud to join forces with the Lightning Warriors Hockey Program and the Malone Family Foundation for Hockey Heals 22, an inspiring event where 22 hours of continuous hockey are dedicated to one powerful mission: ending veteran suicide.
Veteran suicide is a national crisis. For years, the number “22” has served as a symbol, representing the estimated 22 veterans lost to suicide each day. While different studies and data sources have offered varied figures over time, the truth remains painfully clear: we are losing far too many heroes to invisible wounds.
Behind every number is a name, a family, and a story. And events like Hockey Heals 22 remind us that awareness alone isn’t enough—we need action, connection, and purpose to drive real change.
The Lightning Warriors
Founded in 2017 and formally incorporated in 2020, the Lightning Warriors Hockey Program is a Tampa-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving the disabled veteran community through hockey. Their mission is to create a therapeutic and educational environment—both recreational and competitive—that fosters healing, camaraderie, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Hockey Heals 22 is an extension of that mission. It brings together athletes, veterans, and supporters to raise awareness, build community, and honor those we’ve lost by fighting for those still here.
MRC’s Role
As a national, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Mission Roll Call gives a voice to veterans and their families through real-time polling, storytelling, and advocacy. Our mission is simple: to ensure every veteran is seen, heard, and supported.
In 2025, we’re focused on four critical priorities:
- Suicide prevention
- Homelessness
- Access to healthcare
- Food and financial insecurity
These challenges are deeply interconnected. That’s why we listen directly to veterans, share their experiences, and advocate for smart, effective policies—like the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which expands mental health care access and support for underserved communities.
Events like Hockey Heals 22 help bring our work to life, uniting national advocacy with local action and community care.
MRC is proud to share this space with the Malone Family Foundation, a fellow co-beneficiary whose mission centers on mental wellness and recovery for veterans, first responders, and their families. Their work—especially through sport-based wellness programs—echoes the values at the heart of this event.
If you’re in the Tampa area, we invite you to join us in person for Hockey Heals 22, as we stand alongside the Lightning Warriors, the Malone Family Foundation, and all those who are committed to saving lives and building a stronger future for our nation’s veterans and their families. If you can’t make it, follow along on MRC’s social channels for photos, stories, and updates from the event.
Together, we can help ensure that every veteran knows: you are not alone, and your life matters.
May is a month rooted in reverence, honoring those who serve, those we’ve lost, and the invisible battles many veterans still fight every day. At Mission Roll Call, we used this month to spotlight both Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, elevating the importance of recognition, resilience, and reform.
From celebrating the contributions of our service members to confronting the mental health crisis within the veteran community, May’s stories, interviews, and insights brought our mission into sharper focus.
Here’s what you might have missed:
Military Appreciation and Mental Health Awareness in Focus
We explored the true meaning of appreciation and support—not just in words, but in action.
– The Real Meaning of Military Appreciation
– Carrying the Mission of Memorial Day All Year
– From Waves to Wellness with Operation Surf
– 2025 Military Appreciation Month Discounts
Helpful Tips and Awareness
– Real ID and Veterans: What You Need to Know
– 5 Essential Financial Tips for Life After the Military
– The Military Fix-All That Held It All Together
The Lasting Mission Podcast
In May, The Lasting Mission podcast continued to elevate critical conversations that impact the veteran community.
This month’s episode features U.S. Representative Greg Landsman in part one of a two-part discussion on the opioid epidemic and how bipartisan action can lead to safer, non-opioid alternatives for pain management.
Listen to the episode
Subscribe to The Lasting Mission on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform, and help us spread these important conversations by sharing the podcast with others.
Mission Roll Call University (MRCU)
Our YouTube channel, Mission Roll Call University, continues to serve as a go-to resource for veterans, families, and supporters. This month, we released a new episode focused on managing finances and reducing stress before and after separation from military service.
– Break FREE from Financial Stress: Prepare for Your Military Transition NOW
Watch, subscribe, and share to help us ensure veterans have access to the guidance and tools they need to thrive.
MRC in the Media: Advocacy that Resonates
– Lawmakers Move to Stop VA from Quietly Taking Gun Rights from Veterans
– Veterans Concerned About Proposed VA Cuts
– VA Reform: Veteran Advocate Calls for Less Bureaucracy, Better Care
– Newsmax Interview with CEO Jim Whaley
– The Tony Kinnett Podcast – Daily Signal Interview
– Veterans group rises to Collins’s defense over VA cuts: ‘Gotta think differently’
Speak Up: Participate in Our Open Polls
Your voice shapes our mission. From VA services to veteran employment, our open polls help guide where we focus next.
Take the latest poll
Support the Mission: $25 for 250 Campaign
As we honor 250 years of military service, we’re asking supporters to give just $25 to power our next chapter. Every gift helps amplify the voices of veterans and their families.
Donate and explore the timeline
Looking Ahead: Rural and Minority Veterans, PTS Awareness, and Mental Health Resources
In June, we’ll shine a light on rural and minority veterans, communities often overlooked in national conversations, and honor Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month with practical resources, inspiring stories, and expert insights. From navigating VA enrollment to supporting mental health in everyday life, we’re committed to supporting veterans and families and bridging gaps in care.
Stay tuned for new research, new conversations, and new ways to get involved.