2026 Veterans Invitational

We are thrilled to be hosting our 3rd Annual Veterans Invitational Tournament! This weekend is about more than hockey. It’s about competition, camaraderie, and reconnecting with fellow veterans who share the same love for the game and the bonds built through service.

What to Expect

All-level, all-veteran hockey

Teams from across the country

Brotherhood, fun, and unforgettable memories

Florida vibes

Event Details

Jacksonville, Florida

May 15-17, 2026

Jacksonville Veterans Invitational 2025

The 2nd annual Jacksonville Veterans Invitational was filled with excitement this year! From all the vendors and supporters, down to some great competitive hockey.

The storm was brewing outside while the eye of the storm was the Community First Igloo . The Jacksonville Warriors upper team was in an intense battle with the second top seeded Jax Hornets. In a game that could have been written for Hollywood, the Jacksonville squad battled hard to force overtime. After 5 minutes the game had no winner and a shootout was needed to decide a champion. Jacksonville came away with the victory to win its second championship!

Meanwhile, on rink two, the Bravo squad of Jacksonville punched their ticket to the lower division championship to face Central FL Warriors in a rematch after a close one-goal loss. Jacksonville would fall in the championship battle that crowned Central Florida the lower division champions.

Tampa and the Columbia Warriors chose to play their game in extended time, playing 3- 20 minute periods instead of back to back games.

During these competitive games, the battles were fierce and fueled by the inner warrior spirit. Unlike a beer league game, these warriors share the common ground of true honor and commitment to their organizations. Watching these games, anyone could see the true spirit of a warrior and gain an insight to just how strong our past and present military force is. When the final buzzer is sounded, the scores no longer matter. It's the stories shared at the table over a beer and food that will always be remembered. The friendships made that will seemingly last a lifetime is what this is all about.

The Jacksonville Warriors would like to thank ALL of the Warriors that played this weekend and battled til the very end. 4 games in 2 days, with some playing 3 in one day, is very grueling. The most impressive part of the weekend is the spirit these Warriors showed. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the 2nd annual Jacksonville #VeteransInvitational a huge success!

Annual Hicks Cup 2025

The 2025 Hicks Cup, hosted on March 1st, was an absolute nail biter to the very end. One organization broken into two, very evenly matched teams, going head to head. The intense battle showed what a warrior is.

From a spectator, the game was very well played by both teams.

From a players standpoint, it was an all out war.

Good friends battling head to head playing with every bit of skill and grit they had for this moment was great to watch. With Bill Beasly scoring the game winning goal with no time left on the clock, it couldn't have been scripted any better. At the end of the game, there stood one team victorious, but every single veteran on the ice won.

The honor of playing for the Hicks Cup goes much deeper than hockey. It stands as a reminder that 22 veterans a day choose suicide over help. These warriors show that they are winning any battles that may be hindering them. They showed up to play and demonstrated what a warrior is. The handshake line was more special than any handshake line. Brothers and sisters from all different walks of life leaving it on the ice and continuing to support each other.

Tampa Warrior Hockey Academy

The Tampa Bay Lightning, in collaboration with the Malone Family Foundation, hosted the inaugural Warriors Hockey Academy on September 22nd, 2024 at Amalie Arena. The one-day hockey skills and wellness camp was an opportunity for Veterans, Active Duty Military, and First Responders, to enhance their hockey skills and overall well-being. The event will be led by Ryan and his father, Greg Malone, along with several Lightning Alumni, including Mathieu Garon, Jassen Cullimore, Braydon Coburn, Ruslan Fedotenko and others.

The event hosted 80 participants from across Florida, representing seven different organizations, including the Tampa Bay Lightning Warriors, Central Florida Warriors, Tampa Bay Firefighters Hockey Club, Tampa Bay Police Hockey Club, Panthers Warriors, Pinellas County Stars (Pinellas County Police) and the Jacksonville Icemen Warriors.