Guns and Hoses, get in the rink
Brian Walker | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 7 months AGO
<p>Josh Laiva, left, from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, and Adam Godwin from Kootenai County Fire and Rescue will be among those competing in a benefit hockey game at Frontier Ice Arena on Friday. The event will benefit the Kootenai County Police and Fire Foundation that supports families of emergency responders in need and the Post Falls Food Bank.</p>
Law enforcement and firefighters complement each other in emergency situations, but at Frontier Ice Arena on Friday night they'll be fending for themselves.
The groups will square off in the first Guns vs. Hoses Benefit Hockey Game at 7 p.m. at the arena at 3525 W. Seltice Way between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls.
The event will support the Post Falls Food Bank and Kootenai County Police and Fire Foundation that helps families of injured emergency responders.
The goal?
"Other than beat up on the cops, if we reach $5,000 that would be great, but anything above that would be amazing," said Troy Speziale, of the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue union, joking about the competitive part.
Mike Kralicek, a former Coeur d'Alene police officer injured in the line of duty who has both benefitted from the foundation and supported it in return, will drop the ceremonial puck. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
There will be raffles throughout the night, kids activities and food available for sale from Caruso's Deli. The grand raffle prize will be a $400 lawnmower donated by Coeur d'Alene Honda. Other prizes include a vehicle detailing package, autographed Buck knife and packages to the North Idaho Fair, Triple Play and Kroc Center.
Tickets to the event are $5 with two cans of food or $7 without. Ages 12 and younger are free. Tickets will be on sale at the door and at Post Falls Police, the KCFR administration office in Post Falls and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office.
About 300 tickets remain on sale and another 300 have been sold. Frontier is donating the ice time for the event.
The firefighter team will consist of employees with KCFR, Coeur d'Alene Fire and the Idaho Department of Lands. The law enforcement squad features employees with Post Falls Police, the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.
Speziale will compete for the firefighters, while his brother, Chad, will be on the law enforcement side.
Speziale said the community support behind the event has been "overwhelming" with about 25 sponsors.
"Rather than just play each other, we wanted to have an event that will benefit two organizations that can use the help," Speziale said, adding that similar events have been held around the country.
Information: www.kcpoliceandfirefoundation.com, www.iaff2856.org, gunsvshoses@gmail.com
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