The New York City Fire Department Hockey Team is a not-for-profit organization comprised of Firefighters, Officers, and members who donate their time and efforts to raise funds to support our team, as well as, the charities we help support throughout the year.
History
Our beginning was in 1968, where the Harlem Rink Rats (16th Battalion) skated against The Bronx Bums (14th Battalion). Three of those members, Tim Gallagher, Ed McLoughlin and Gene Scott organized the Department’s first Ice Hockey team. Additional players in the following five years skated against semi-pro, college, and teams from Buffalo, Boston and Hoboken Fire Departments. In the winter of 1974, the first game against the NYPD was played at the Abe Stark Arena in Coney Island, NY. This game still continues today with sold out crowds in arenas such as the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Barclay's Center, Madison Square Garden and currently UBS Arena at Belmont Park.
We now compete in charity events and tournaments worldwide. Some of the events we have competed in are the Southern Ontario Firefighters Hockey Tournament, the World Police – Fire Games including Stockholm, Sweden - Vancouver, Canada - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Belfast, Ireland (SILVER MEDAL) - Fairfax, Virginia (BRONZE MEDAL) and Los Angeles, California (GOLD MEDAL). We have also competed in tournaments in Boston, Florida, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Atlanta, California, Cleveland, Connecticut, Alaska and Canada; helping to raise money for various charities.
In 1996, Lt. Mike Rossidis established the FDNY “King of the Ice” Firehouse Tournament. Coordinated by Frank Heal and Larry 'Redlight' Feilich, this tournament, now going into its 27th year, is the “World’s Largest Firehouse Hockey Tournament” with participation of 96 Firehouse teams. In 2017, we had a record 112 teams.
In 2009, team member Firefighter Derek Kern established the first ever “King of the Wheels” FDNY Roller Hockey tournament. This event brought firefighters from firehouses throughout the city into roller rinks for a battle on wheels. This tournament is now going into its 14th year. The tournament is coordinated by Steve Kelly and Bryan Elfant.
Some of the charities and organizations we have support currently and over the years are the UFA Widows and Children’s Fund, UFOA Scholarship Fund, Ray Pfeifer Foundation, Johnnie Mac Foundation, FDNY Fire Family Transport, Wounded Warriors, Make a Wish Foundation, Greystone Programs, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, FDNY Annual Widow and Children’s Skating Event, Thomas Elsasser Memorial Scholarship Fund, New York State Fallen Fighters Memorial, The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS), American Diabetes Association, and the ALS Association of Greater New York. In 2017 we were able to donate a 15 passenger van to the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation.
We also donate to FDNY members families that have sick relatives in need as well as team merchandise for them to raffle off for various charities and organizations.
This is who we are and what we are about...helping others through the sport of hockey!
Tom Reno – General Manager / Head Coach
Derek Kern – Manager
Frank Heal – Secretary
Pete Gillespie – Associate Coach
Anthony Antenucci - – Associate Coach
