State Representative Day to Host Military Veterans for Charity Hockey Game

Together with The Skate for the 22 Foundation, State Representative Michael S. Day will sponsor the second annual Veterans versus State Representatives charity ice hockey game.

Representative Day will be joined by his colleagues from the Massachusetts House of Representatives in playing the hockey game against the New England Eagles Veterans’ Hockey Club to raise awareness about the struggles veterans face when returning home from service.

The hockey game will take place on Thursday, May 25th at 6 pm at the Warrior Ice Arena, 90 Guest Street in Boston. All are welcome to attend, learn more about The Skate for the 22 Foundation, and support this worthy cause. The Skate for the 22 Foundation formed in response to the high rate of United States military veteran suicides, which some studies place at an average of twenty-two per day.

The Foundation works to reduce the number of veteran suicides by offering a unique support system, while also providing financial assistance to veterans battling depression and other mental health issues, and to their families. The Skate for the 22 Foundation is pursuing this goal in a very Massachusetts-oriented way, by recognizing the therapeutic value of ice hockey.

“The Skate for the 22 Foundation strives to provide a team, community and family-like environment for all veterans,” said Skate for the 22 founder and President Bobby Colliton, “just like the one that we lived, experienced and embraced while serving this great nation. After having several friends that I served with in Afghanistan lose their personal battles and take their own lives, I looked at what made me happy, what helped in my life, and for me that was ice hockey. The locker room, the teammates, and the general competitive nature of ice hockey is what I needed. I wanted to use that to change others’ lives as well. There is no doubt that the Skate for the 22 Foundation has changed lives and quite possibly saved lives, and if we can save just one life, then that's the ultimate win.”

“As a lifelong hockey player and active youth hockey coach, I know how important the team-oriented nature of hockey is, and I certainly appreciate how cathartic a competitive hockey game can be,” said Representative Day. “I am grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness about the great work the Skate for the 22 Foundation is doing for our veteran population. These veterans, who have already given so much to us, are continuing their lifelong commitment to serve and protect our country, and I am thrilled to do anything I can to support their work in acknowledging and destigmatizing the difficult mental and physical health challenges veterans often face when they come home – even if that means getting whipped by them on the Bruins practice rink.”

The Skate for the 22 Foundation provides ice time, equipment and support to skate at no cost to veterans. In turn, veteran team players volunteer for fundraising events and veteran outreach programs so all veterans know that they are not alone in their struggles. Through the New England Eagles Veterans’ Hockey Club, veterans are skating in support of fellow veterans in distress. The routine of hockey, the camaraderie of the locker room, and the stress release the actual game provides have proven to be of great therapeutic help for many participants.

To learn more about the work of the Skate for the 22 Foundation, visit their website at http://www.skateforthe22.com/home.html.