On Saturday, March 24, 2018 the FDNY faced off with the NYPD in the 45th Annual Charity Hockey Game. First Deputy Commissioner Laura Kavanagh represented the FDNY in the opening ceremony, and a moment of silence was held for members who made the Supreme Sacrifice this year in the line-of-duty - Lt. Christopher Raguso, Lt. Michael Davidson, Fire Marshal Christopher "Tripp" Zanetis and FF. William Tolley - and all those lost to illness as a result of the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center.
The FDNY Hockey Team made a $15,000 donation to the Ray Pfeifer Foundation. MCU made a $5,000 donation to the FDNY/NYPD Hockey Teams. Our team sponsor, Haix, also participated in the pre-game ceremony. It also was a celebration of 50 Years of Bravest Hockey, founded back in 1968, by members Tim Gallagher, Ed McLoughlin and Gene Scott. Ed dropped the ceremonial puck with long time GM Billy Kammerer for the FDNY while Gerry Cassagne dropped it for NYPD and also Bobby Tolley, brother of FF. William Tolley.
The puck dropped at noon and the NYPD started the scoring with a quick power play goal from McAleer (Lopes) at 19:02. John Sullivan (Kern) tied it up on a power play goal at 16:51, tying the score 1-1 for the 1st period.
Steve Romano scored an unassisted goal at 15:28 of the second period. Power play goals later in the second by Finest player Gambardella (Harrigan) at 5:51 and Bravest player Joe Sanger (Zeilman) at 4:41. So after the second period it was New York’s Bravest leading 3-2.
NYPD’s Lopes (Harrigan) tied it up with a little over two minutes into the 3rd period. Chris Princiotta (Keane) gave the FDNY a 4-3 lead a little less than half way through the third but it was NYPD’s Gabay (Antiok, Antianades) who tied it up and end in regulation 4-4.
Due to the New York Rangers playing later that evening the teams had to be off the ice by a set time so it went straight to a 3-man shootout. Being the home team, NYPD decided to shoot last so the Fire Department was shooting first.
Shooters for FD were: Shooters for PD were:
6 - Elfant – scored 13 - McAleer – missed s
16 - Kelly – missed 77 - Gambardella – missed
12 - Romano – missed 21 - Antianades – scored
7 - Kern – missed 72 - Antiok – missed
13 - Antenucci – scored 20 - Morales – missed
Anthony Antenucci’s game winning goal lifted the FDNY to a 5-4 victory. Goaltender Kurt Pflumm recorded 44 saves for the day and landed the MVP for FDNY. FDNY now leads the 45 year series with a 25-18-2 record.
Thank you to Don LaGreca and Rick DiPietro for broadcasting the game on ESPN and EJ Radek for interviewing Pete on NHL Network. Thank you to all our fans for your support!!! See you again next year.