New Westminster firefighters are set to face off against the Vancouver Canucks Alumni and two Canadian country singers in the Hydrant Cup.
Every two years, the Vancouver Canucks Alumni come to town to play against the firefighters hockey team in a fundraiser for the New Westminster Firefighters' Charitable Society.
“This is our Number 1 fundraiser that our charitable society puts on,” said firefighter Paul Adamson, who organizes the Hydrant Cup. “We raise about $20,000 that we distribute throughout the community. We are hoping for another good turnout.”
This year’s Hydrant Cup is taking place on Friday, Dec. 5 at Queen’s Park Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m., but the off-ice action gets underway at 5:30 p.m.
A live band will be performing in the lobby, fire trucks will be parked out front for kids to view, and firefighters will be offering a barbecue outside the arena. Sparky the firedog will drop by.
“It’s more than a hockey game,” Adamson said. “It’s an extremely cheap family night out.”
Tickets are $10 for a family of four (two adults and two children), or $5 for an individual ticket. Five dollars from each ticket being sold through local schools will be donated back to the school district for after-school programs.
Players expected to lace up for the Canucks Alumni team include Kirk McLean, Cliff Ronning, Darcy Rota, Jyrki Lumme and Dave Babych. Other players who may be on the roster include Terry Bingley (goal), Gary Nylund, Eddie Hatoum, Rick Amann, Mark Lofthouse, David Bruce, Denis Pederson, Phil von Stefenelli, Sean Crowther, Bruce Brill, Greg Neeld and Kyle Wellwood, who will be making his debut with the Canucks Alumni.
Country singers Aaron Pritchett and Chad Brownlee (a former Canucks draft pick) will be skating for the alumni team.
Orland Kurtenbach and Ernie Dougherty will be behind the bench, while New Westminster Bruins coach Ernie “Punch” McLean will also return to his old stomping grounds for the game as the firefighters’ celebrity coach.
Tickets for the eighth Hydrant Cup are available at Queen’s Park Arena, Moody Park Arena and the Glenbrook Fire Hall at Sixth Avenue and McBride Boulevard.
