Get ready to watch some friendly competition heat up on the ice for a good cause.
The Bradford West Gwillimbury Fire and Emergency Services are set to go head-to-head against the South Simcoe Police Service during the second annual Battle of the Badges charity hockey game in support of the Bradford Helping Hand Food Bank on April 5 starting at 7 p.m., on the Paul Dossey rink at the BWG Leisure Centre, 471 West Park Ave.
“I expect a very high-spirited game,” said Andrew Sibbald, firefighter and lead organizer for the event.
In addition to watching all the action on the ice, guests are also expected to have the opportunity to purchase T-shirts with the Battle of the Badges logos or pay to compete in the chuck-a-puck contest and see who can get closest to centre ice for a chance to win a prize pack from Perfect SZN restaurant. Pricing has yet to be determined, but cash, debit and credit are expected to be accepted.
While the fire team won last year’s game 6-1, Sibbald recalled it was actually a pretty close match except for about a five-minute streak during the second period where the fire team “blew the barn doors open.”
“I fully anticipate that South Simcoe police will not forget that,” he said. “I’m expecting it to be pretty competitive.”
He’s hoping fire can clinch a second victory this year, but Sibbald is “very optimistic” that no matter who racks up the most points, the event will score a winning goal for the food bank and surpass the more than the 300 pounds of food and $1,580 collected during last year’s event.
“You need entities like the Helping Hand Food Bank to be there to provide support for the community,” he said.
That’s especially true as food prices increase and a climbing cost of living means more people are living paycheque to paycheque at a time when even more economic uncertainty could be on the horizon as a result of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
That’s all while the food bank has already seen record demand, and about 30 per cent of households in the region experienced some form of food insecurity in 2023, according to recent data from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
“Whatever we can do to be able to help bridge that gap, to help with that demand, I’m all for it,” Sibbald said.
Following the “great turnout” last year, he’s hoping the event will continue to bring together the community in support of a local cause on an annual basis.
Admission is free, but everyone is asked to bring a non-perishable food item as a donation to the food bank.
The organizers are also hoping to partner with local businesses for sponsorships and promotions both on and off the ice. For more information, businesses can email either fire inspector Aimee Jordan at [email protected] or police Const. Rachel Varral at [email protected].