The boys in red and blue are ready to hit the ice for the 11th straight year.
The annual Guns ‘n Hoses charity hockey game will see the Squamish Fire Rescue Services (SFRS) team once again battle with the Squamish RCMP for a good cause.
This year’s game takes place on Friday (March 22) at Brennan Park Arena and SFRS head coach Dave Sweeney hopes his squad can make it two straight.
“It’s quite a rivalry,” Sweeney said, noting he’s been a volunteer with the SFRS for 30 years. “They’ve got a bunch of young whipper snappers on the team, but it’s always fun for both teams I think.”
Last year’s game saw the SFRS pick up the 5-4 win, but more importantly the event helped raise close to $5,000 for the Lazaridis family. The family’s young son, Theo, has been battling leukemia for over a year and Sweeney said the family will be receiving the game’s support once again.
“Through our own membership we try to find someone and for us it was rather evident that we should help out young Theo,” he said. “He’s still battling and it’s a real plight that the family is in.”
Sweeney explained that money is raised through ticket and concession sales, along with a silent auction. Whatever money is raised is then matched by the Squamish Firefighters Association. The game is competitive in nature but Sweeney said it’s designed to be a fun time for the family.
“Once the teams get on the ice you never know what will happen,” he said, laughing. “The RCMP usually use their handcuffs against us and we can often distract them with a box of Timbits.”
Doors open for the game at 6 p.m., with the puck drop taking place at 6:30 p.m. A donation of $5 gets you into the game and Sweeney said there will also be a 50/50 draw and a puck toss, with all proceeds going to the Lazaridis family.
Sweeney encouraged the community to pack Brennan Park on Friday.
“It’s a great, fun community event,” he said. “It’s a pretty neat thing to come and watch and it’s a great way for the community to come together and help out one of its own.”
