The 2017 Memorial Hockey Challenge has been confirmed for Feb. 25 at Yellowknife’s Ed Jeske Arena.
The 11th annual charity game will feature a showdown between the city’s firefighters and RCMP officers in memory of fallen firefighters Cyril Fyfe and Kevin Olson and RCMP Cst. Christopher Worden.
Fyfe and Olson died while fighting a structure fire in Yellowknife back in June 2005. Worden was shot and killed in Hay River while apprehending a suspect in October 2007.
Organizers say all proceeds from this year’s event will support the NWT Disabilities Council.
Last year, over $18,000 was raised for the family of Deagan Clavette and YK Cares.
Clavette, who was also known as Hay River’s bubble child, passed away last month at the age of two after suffering from a rare form of mast cell disease.
The city’s firefighters and RCMP officers have split the last two games with the firefighters winning 5-4 in 2015 and the Mounties claiming the 2016 game by a score of 12-6.
In previous years, special guests have made their way up to Yellowknife for the charity match. Former NHL players Theoren Fleury, Dana Murzyn and Jamie Macoun made the trip last year.
There’s no word yet on if any special guests will come up this time around.
The 2017 Memorial Hockey Challenge is being orchestrated by the Northern Safety Association, NWT Disabilities Council, RCMP and the City of Yellowknife.
