HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- For many service members, veterans, and civilians at Hill Air Force Base, the local ice rink in Ogden offers more than a sport; it offers a family. In a lifestyle shaped by frequent moves and high‑stress demands, Hill’s hockey community has become a steady constant built on camaraderie, support, and shared purpose. What begins as a simple love for the game quickly becomes something deeper: a place where people who understand the weight of military service can reconnect, decompress, and belong.
That bond was apparent over Memorial Day weekend at the Armed Services Hockey Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, where Hill brought two teams made up of old friends, new arrivals, and players who flew in just to wear the jersey again. That chemistry carried into competition, helping both Hill teams rise to the top of their divisions and secure championship banners in a single weekend.
On the ice and in the locker room, players connect as teammates first. "When you're in the locker room, you're no longer a Lieutenant, he’s no longer a Senior Airman… It's us. It's the team," said retired Master Sgt. Mike Shane, President of the Armed Services Hockey Tournaments. "Once you are on the ice playing and you have that camaraderie and bond, it's your family."
That welcoming environment draws in newcomers and returning players alike, especially those who have been away from the sport due to deployments, financial constraints, or the demands of military life.
"It’s such an inviting environment, where I could come back to this game that I missed so much," said Staff Sgt. Matthew Smith, a unit trainer with the 75th Security Forces Squadron. "To have that bond with people that have had to go through what this uniform entails… it’s just awesome to be back involved."
The Armed Services Hockey Tournament began in 2003 with just six teams, originally created to give deploying service members a weekend away from the stress of their jobs. Over the past 23 years, it has grown into a massive event hosting more than 70 teams and partnering closely with the USA Hockey Warriors program to support active-duty personnel and disabled veterans. What started as a morale booster has evolved into an outlet for many who struggle with the invisible wounds of service.
Shane has seen the impact up close. Over the years, he has received quiet phone calls from team captains. These conversations often begin with concern and end with relief. They tell him about players who had been struggling, then they describe the moment something changed. “Because of the tournament, he now has a purpose,” one captain told him about a player who had been battling mental health difficulties.
Those words stay with Shane and are the reason he continues to build the program and tournaments into something far greater than a weekend of hockey. “When you hear that us just getting together to play hockey is saving a life… this is no longer an option,” he said. “This is giving people a purpose.”
What Shane hears in those calls reflects a broader truth within the military hockey community. For many players, the tournaments and program have given something to look forward to, someone to lean on, and a community that understands without explanation. After long stretches of deployments, transitions, or isolation, the simple act of showing up to the rink can reconnect them to something steady.
"When you come off active duty, there can be a harsh period of adjustment," explained goalie Tim Broussard, an F‑15 secondary power program manager at Hill. "Getting back into military hockey eased the adjustment enough to give you that sense of, 'Okay, we know how to do this.'"
That sense of familiarity, to include the shared language, humor, and unspoken understanding, is what keeps players returning year after year. It’s also what makes the program so unique. The teams are a melting pot of active‑duty members from multiple branches, guardsmen, reservists, DoW civilians, and retired veterans. Once they step onto the ice, the traditional hierarchy dissolves into a unified team dynamic built on trust and mutual respect.
Now, Hill turns its focus to the massive Veterans Day tournament in Las Vegas, where more than 70 teams compete with impressive skill and deep camaraderie. Despite the intensity, fighting is nearly nonexistent within these tournaments, which is a rarity in competitive hockey. Players see each other as brothers in arms first and opponents second. The respect for each other within the program runs that deep.
As new players move into Utah and others return from deployments or career transitions, the Hill hockey community continues to grow. While they certainly plan to chase more, the goal is not just to win banners. It’s to maintain a space where everyone has a place on the bench, whether they’re a seasoned skater or lacing up for the first time in years. Regardless of Hill returning from Las Vegas with another championship or not, the objective remains steady: play hard, support one another, and keep the community strong.
For more information about the program or to get involved, contact Jae Worthen at jworthen@webercountyutah.gov.