Several Anaheim Ducks alumni took part in the 2026 Face Off for Heroes Anaheim at Great Park Ice in Irvine, according to The Hockey News. The charity hockey game was held with the Warrior for Life Fund.
Kevin Bieksa, who played three seasons with the Ducks from 2015 to 2018, was among the former NHLers on the ice. The Hockey News reports he is now a regular on the Sportsnet panel, and that this was his third time in the event.
The event is presented by the NHL in partnership with the Anaheim Ducks Alumni Association. It supports Warrior For Life Fund programs serving active-duty service members, veterans and their families.
Ducks alumnus Scott Niedermayer joined fellow Ducks alum Vitaly Vishnevski and Warrior for Life Fund founder and executive director Ryan Foley for the ceremonial puck drop. Former Ducks goaltender Guy Hebert was also there. The NHL Alumni team, which included Bieksa and Vishnevski, played the Naval Special Warfare team.
Bieksa said he has enjoyed every year of the event. He described meeting the service members and seeing how they train as impressive, and said they pushed the pace from start to finish.
Based out of Virginia Beach, the Warrior for Life Fund was founded by Foley in 2012, The Hockey News reports. Boston Bruins Alumni president Frank Simonetti serves as the fund's Face Off for Heroes Program Manager.