At annual Veteran hockey tournament, 77-year-old player proves age is just a number

By Allison Stevens | February 11, 2026

Retired Marine Tommy Aydt is not your typical hockey player.

The Vietnam Veteran has had nine stents and two balloons placed in his chest to improve blood flow to his heart and five bypass surgeries to address blocked coronary arteries. His gallbladder has been removed, and he’s had a dozen kidney stones. His hip has been replaced, he can’t see out of his left eye and he suffers from anxiety and post-traumatic stress syndrome. 

And he’s 77 years old.

But that hasn’t stopped him from getting his game on. A lifelong hockey player and member of the Minnesota Warriors, an ice hockey team for Veterans with service-related disabilities, Aydt is a fixture at the rink and at team-related events—including last month’s Veterans Showcase, created by Navy Federal Credit Union.

“It’s been awesome,” Aydt said. “It really changed my life. These are people dealing with the same things I do, and I can talk to any of them.”

The opportunity to compete and connect on the ice has meant wonders for his mental health, his wife added. “These guys understand him, they know his health, and he feels so comforted,” she said, noting that the camaraderie has significantly eased symptoms from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Teammate and best friend Joe Meinhardt said players gravitate toward Aydt, whom he describes as living proof that anyone—of any age, background or ability —can play, contribute and belong. “He motivates all of us."

6th annual tournament

Navy Federal's 6th annual Veterans Showcase tournament, held on January 31, brought together four teams from across the country: Aydt's Minnesota Warriors; the Chicago Warriors, another team of disabled Veterans; the Navy SEAL Foundation team, headquartered in Virginia Beach; and the Lightning Warriors of Tampa, Florida. 

Selected from among 80 applicants, teams kicked off the weekend with the tournament, followed by a welcome reception and dinner and VIP experience—including photo ops with the Stanley Cup. On Feb. 1, they attended the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series™ game featuring the Boston Bruins facing off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium. 

Before the game, participants attended a brunch with National Hockey League (NHL) talent who previewed the game and the 2026 Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, NHL hosted a pregame fan festival, featuring live music and immersive, partner-driven activations and experiences for fans of all ages, including Navy Federal’s virtual hockey-shot challenge and snow globe photo op.

Deepening bonds

For the Minnesota Warriors, the weekend was an opportunity to deepen bonds shaped through practice, shared vacations, volunteer events and partnerships with local special hockey programs. That sense of family resonates with other teams, too. 

In Tampa, the Lightning Warriors have built a community of more than 100 disabled Veterans. For them, hockey is a tool for healing—a way to rediscover purpose and connection. “Our team embodies the core values of camaraderie, community, resilience, integrity and service,” said Lightning Warriors Executive Director Chris Scangarello, who served as helicopter mechanic with the US Marine Corps and crew chief with the Army National Guard. “We exemplify camaraderie by creating an environment where every member feels supported on and off the ice.”

Indeed, their commitment doesn’t stop at the rink. From beach cleanups and home-building events to suicide-prevention initiatives, the team gives back to the Tampa Bay community. On and off the ice, the team has connected in ways that Scangarello said are hard to describe. “It’s something that, after serving in the military and getting out, you just can’t replicate in the civilian world.”

The Chicago Warriors share that same spirit of service. Founded a decade ago, their program has grown to a thriving community of about 75 active members and more than 250 Veterans supported over the years—each of whom has some kind of service-related disability.

For these players, hockey is a lifeline. “Our team is defined by camaraderie, integrity, dedication and service,” said President Jim Otzko, who played hockey in high school before serving in the US Army during the 1990s. Members volunteer at local events and mentor young athletes. “The purpose of the team was to provide ice time and use hockey as a sport that would give them a place to feel like they belong,” Otzko says. “We provide this similar type of camaraderie that they had when they were in service”—and it has literally saved lives.

The Navy SEAL Foundation team echoed the sentiment. “When we lace up, it’s not just a game,” said Geoff Leard, team manager and Director of Partnerships & Athletic Events at the Navy SEAL Foundation. “It’s a way to stay connected, stay healthy and take care of each other.” 

Their purpose extends far beyond hockey. Through partnerships with the Navy SEAL Foundation and United Heroes League, they support Gold Star Families, mentor transitioning Servicemembers and provide opportunities for military kids to thrive through sports. 

“What makes our group different is the shared operational background,” Leard said. “Everyone on the ice has lived through the same pressures: deployments, loss, transition and the constant demand to perform at the highest level. That creates an immediate bond and a level of trust you simply can’t replicate.”

Navy Federal, for its part, was honored to support these athletes and the missions they represent at the 6th annual Veterans Showcase. “Seeing the power of hockey in Veterans’ lives inspired us to create the Veterans Showcase 6 years ago,” said John Menoni, Senior Vice President of Branch Operations at Navy Federal. He cheered a “remarkable group whose camaraderie reminds me of the same bonds that united us in service.” 

learn more about Navy Federal’s Veterans Showcase.