Oakland police, firefighters to face-off for charity

“Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for … Guns N’ Hoses!”

On Sunday, the Oakland Ice Center will host the third annual charity police versus firefighters hockey match between some of Oakland’s finest, titled “Guns N’ Hoses.”

The game will begin at 1:45 p.m. on the NHL-sized east rink. All of the proceeds from ticket and event t-shirt sales, a silent auction and a donation jar will go directly to the Bay Area Outreach and Recreational Program (BORP) to help support their new sled hockey program for physically disabled children and adults.

“What the police and firefighters do for the community with this event is fantastic,” said Melissa Fitzgerald, general manager of the Oakland Ice Center. “They raise a substantial amount of money for charitable purposes.”

Fitzgerald estimates that approximately $10,000 was raised during last year’s event. Each year, the organizers from the Oakland police and fire departments choose a different charity to support through the event. Last year, all the money raised went to the families of fallen police officers. For the inaugural event in 2008, the funds went to the physical education program at Oakland Tech High School.

Fresh off of hosting the Calgary Flames on Saturday night, San Jose Sharks forwards Logan Couture and John McCarthy, along with the team’s mascot, “Sharkie,” are also scheduled to be in attendance to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans there to watch the game and support the cause.

The silent auction featuring a team signed Sharks jersey, Sharks tickets, tickets to the upcoming Oakland Raiders-Miami Dolphins game, tickets to any Fox Theater show through February, and other individually signed Sharks memorabilia, will take place during the game. Representatives from BORP will also be on hand with a donation jar to educate people about their organization.

Tickets for the usually very crowded event are still available and cost $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12 years old. They can be pre-ordered on the Oakland Ice Center’s website, or at the door for the same price. T-shirts, which also cost $20, are also available at the door or on the OIC website for pre-order.

According to their website, BORP is a nonprofit organization that works “to improve the health, independence and social integration of people with physical disabilities through sports, fitness and recreational programs.” The Berkeley-based agency has been working toward this mission since it was founded in 1976.

The Oakland Ice Center is located at 519 18th Street in downtown Oakland. For more information, please contact Melissa Fitzgerald at mfitzgerald@sharksice.com.

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