The third annual Battle of the Badges charity hockey game is happening Sunday after the Grande Prairie Christmas Tree lighting. The game, hosted by the Grande Prairie Firefighters Association, will see the Grande Prairie Fire Department take on the Grande Prairie RCMP in the most Canadian way possible, a good old-fashioned hockey game.
Vice Chair of the Grande Prairie Firefighters Association Riley Boomgaarden says all the funds raised from the 50/50 tickets that are sold throughout the game and the donations made at the door will be donated back to the community, with this year’s charity of choice being the Sunrise House Youth Emergency Shelter.
“We try to keep all the funds raised within the community of Grande Prairie so people can see the direct result of their donations. This year, we chose Sunrise House. They just built a new building, and we are excited to support them this year.”
When it comes to what people can expect to see on the ice, Boomgaarden says there are good players on both sides, and he doesn’t expect that either team will hold anything back, but the Grande Prairie Fire Department team is coming in with a hot streak.
“I don’t want to be this guy, but we have kind of spanked them the past couple of years, so I think they are probably looking for a little bit of revenge. So we will have to see what kind of firepower they have this year.”
Entrance to the game at Bonnetts Energy Centre is by donation, and the doors will open at 5 p.m., with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. However, beforehand, the city will be holding the annual Christmas Tree Light Up festivities, with the tree itself being lit at 4:35 p.m.