INNISFAIL – The early new year is bringing in a different brand of Hockey Night in Innisfail.
For what is believed to be the first time ever, members of the Innisfail Fire Department and the Innisfail RCMP detachment, are squaring off on ice at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 6 at the Innisfail Twin Area.
While the match-up is officially billed as the inaugural Innisfail RCMP & Fire Department Charity Hockey Game, it promises to be serious business when both sides hit the ice.
“It definitely is going to be highly competitive. I think both sides are coming from angles where they like to win,” said Innisfail firefighter Adam Dingman.
Innisfail RCMP Const. Craig Nelson agrees, noting the challenge was issued by firefighters and is one the Mounties won’t ignore.
“The RCMP will always step up to the challenge,” said Nelson, who like Dingman, will be suiting up for the game. “I expect it to be a good, hard-played and well-fought hockey game.”
And while the game is a fundraiser for the Innisfail and District Food Bank, there is also a trophy to be won.
“I'm working on that as we speak,” said Rhonda Turnquist, administrative assistant for Innisfail Fire and Protective Services, who is organizing local firefighters for the game.
Turnquist said the idea for the match on ice, which is free for the public, originated from an outdoor game played last year between the town’s first emergency responders and local children.
“They kind of got the idea to do the fire versus RCMP for more of a structured event. So yes, we're going to see how the first annual event goes,” said Turnquist.
She said the contest will see all players dressed in uniforms and in full gear for a regulation game with three periods and a referee.
Turnquist said each team will have 10 skaters and a goalie for the game, with the fire department reaching out to Red Deer County for extra hockey help and the RCMP looking to members from the Red Deer detachment for support.
“We've already got our teams picked,” said Turnquist.
She said the public can come and watch the game free of charge but are asked to make a donation to the Innisfail and District Food Bank.
Turnquist said for next year the idea is to have both sides choose a charity and the game winner gets the best of a 60 – 40 split for the charity of their choice.
“We're just hoping that it takes off this year, and we can do it annually. We'd like to do it outdoors next year weather permitting,” said Turnquist.
As for this year, the players are already pumped, not only to best their emergency service rivals but to have some old-fashioned fun on ice and to support a worthy cause.
“I think that we have a really great professional working relationship with them. I think it will be a fun opportunity to extend that relationship and build on it and to get to know them a little better outside of an emergency setting. It gives us an opportunity to help the community at the same time,” said Dingman.
“Hopefully, this will become an annual thing. And you know, it will be really nice to have the trophy in the fire hall for the rest of the year until next year.”
