When the Tampa Bay Lightning circled this year’s Hockey Talks Night on the calendar-a league-wide initiative aimed at raising awareness around mental health-it wasn’t just another themed night at the rink. For team captain Victor Hedman, it was a chance to amplify a message that’s become deeply personal: nobody goes through life alone, and it’s okay to talk about the tough stuff.
Hedman, one of the most respected voices in the Lightning locker room and around the league, has long been an advocate for mental health awareness. But this year, he took things a step further. He partnered with John Toracinta, founder of the athletic apparel brand NOSOLO-short for “NOBODY GOES SOLO”-to bring a meaningful presence to the night’s events at Benchmark International Arena.
NOSOLO isn’t just a clothing brand. A portion of every sale goes directly to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), supporting individuals and families navigating mental health challenges. For Hedman, the mission behind the brand struck a chord, especially in a world where athletes-particularly male athletes-are often expected to grit through adversity in silence.
“Especially for male athletes, mental health and the struggles you might go through isn’t something that you talk about a lot,” Hedman said. “So it made sense to me, and I’m all for ending the stigma.”
It was Hedman who reached out to Toracinta with the idea of doing something special for this year’s Hockey Talks Night. The goal wasn’t just to raise awareness-it was to spark conversation, to let people know it’s okay to speak up and seek help.
“The thing that we preach is, you’ve got to talk. You go through struggles, but it’s always good to talk about it,” Hedman said. “We want people to see and know that you’re not alone.”
And they put that message into action on Tuesday night.
As part of the evening’s events, fans at the game were invited to fill out “Hockey Talks Cards,” writing down messages of support, encouragement, or personal reflections. These weren’t just symbolic gestures-they were real moments of connection, reminders that mental health is something that touches every corner of the community.
The Lightning Foundation also distributed a limited run of special-edition Tampa Bay Lightning NOSOLO hats, which were used in creative ways throughout the night. Fans could nominate someone they felt needed a lift, and those nominees were surprised with cupcakes, handwritten notes from the Lightning, and customized gift bags from NOSOLO. Each bag included a NOSOLO bracelet and a hat signed by Hedman himself.
“Just to be there and to feel the energy of a lot of people who are all there supporting the Lightning but also supporting this cause that touches everyone is pretty impactful,” Toracinta said. “And to see it on a stage like that in Tampa, it's going to be flat-out awesome.”
After the game, Hedman met with Toracinta and regional NAMI representatives through the team’s player ticket program. It was a chance to connect face-to-face, to hear stories, and to continue building a bridge between the hockey community and the broader mental health conversation.
For Toracinta, NOSOLO was born out of personal experience. “As we were developing it, we wanted to connect it to something that was bigger than us, something that reached a broader audience,” he said. “Mental health is something that has affected me personally as well as my wife, family and friends.”
He added, “There’s a statistic out there that one in every five people are affected by mental health, but in our eyes, it's an everybody thing. At some point or another-whether it's now or later or in the past-mental health touches everybody.”
That sentiment resonates with Hedman, who’s not just a backer of the brand but a true believer in its message. He’s part of a growing list of NOSOLO athlete ambassadors, which also includes former Lightning forward Nate Thompson and NFL quarterback Jared Goff.
“Vic's been an unbelievable ambassador of ours since almost the conception of this thing,” Toracinta said. “He really bought into it. He's just a warmhearted guy who’s all about giving back and putting others first.”
Tuesday’s Hockey Talks Night was another example of Hedman using his platform for more than just hockey. It was about showing that even the strongest athletes carry invisible weight-and that strength often lies in being vulnerable.
“It's important because you can't always see the struggles that people are going through,” Hedman said. “The more you talk about it, the better you’ll feel.”
He continued, “As an athlete, there's a physical part to the game and obviously a mental part that is just as important. I think it's just as important to work on your mental strength as your physical strength.
This cause proves that everyone is human and everyone can go through stuff. The more you talk about it, especially looking at myself, the better you feel.”
In a league built on toughness and grit, Hedman is showing that true leadership sometimes means opening up-and reminding everyone in the building that nobody goes solo.