Lightning’s Victor Hedman helps Helene’s first responders

TAMPA – Tampa Mayor Jane Castor walked into the Tampa Police Department headquarters Tuesday afternoon and gave Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman a big hug.

“Good to see you, Captain,” Castor said.

Hedman may have been named the Lightning’s new captain just last month, but his influence in Tampa Bay is nothing new – both on the ice as he enters his 16th NHL season and in his adopted hometown.

“Victor has always been a leader,” Castor said. “Now all he has is the ‘C’ on his jersey.”

Hedman and five of his Lightning teammates visited TPD on Tuesday, a day after Hedman and his wife Sanna pledged to donate $150,000 to hurricane relief and recovery efforts. The funds were to be split between the Tampa Police Benevolent Association and the Coast Guard Foundation.

“I don’t think it’s just about the donations and stuff like that,” Hedman said. “It’s just about being a good citizen. And I’ve learned a lot over my years here. I’ve lived here for 15 years and basically grew up here. I love this lifestyle and know what it means to people to call this home.

“I think it’s just good to give back to our community for what they’ve done to me and my family. We are fortunate to call this our home and we will continue to call it our home for many, many years to come. It’s just a phenomenal feeling to be out here (Tuesday) and hopefully next time it can be under different circumstances.”

Hedman’s donation to the TPD Benevolent Association will benefit eleven officers whose homes were damaged by Helene during her time as a first responder. Two of the officers were present Tuesday and were able to meet Hedman; The other nine were still cleaning up their houses.

“It’s very, very humbling to meet some of the people affected by the storm,” Hedman said. “It’s just grounding for us to see how close our community is and how people come together under these circumstances. But I think overall as people in this community we are very, very close-knit and that makes this a great place to live.”

Hedman marveled at how the first responders were able to put their personal lives and individual needs aside to help others affected by the hurricane.

And it’s just heartbreaking for them to come back and see for themselves the destruction that they’ve suffered,” he said. “They put their lives at risk. So it goes without saying that we would like to thank both the Tampa Police Department and the Coast Guard for what they are doing in our community, not only during the hurricane, but for what they do every day to keep us safe . ”

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Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said he handed out checks to the affected officers on Monday and Tuesday.

“A lot of them were crying and so grateful,” Bercaw said. “…When I just talk to them, they are just overwhelmed by the support. And it’s just great that our community and our championship Lightning team is there for us when we need them and the entire community, everyone comes in and out and on board.”

Hedman also visited the U.S. Coast Guard Air Force Station in Clearwater, where approximately 30 players participated in various events throughout the region as part of the Lightning’s Community Kickoff Day.

Ryan McDonagh was among those who stopped by Tampa Fire Rescue, and Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov played ball hockey with children at the South Tampa Family YMCA. Jake Guentzel visited AdventHealth Tampa Hospital in University Area. Others stopped at the LaVoy Exceptional Center in West Tampa.

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