Police and Firefighters from the City of Reading took to the ice today for the first annual "Battle of the Badges" hockey game prior to the regular scheduled Reading Royals match up with the Trenton Titans. Bragging rights for the top position will have to wait until another day however, as the teams skated to a three all tie.
The firefighters started the scoring with an early goal but the police soon retaliated, scoring three goals in close succession. The firefighters showed that they weren't out of the game by coming back to tie the game up with goals in the second and third periods, a shoot out to decide the winner, after the regular play, also ended in a tie. After the game the teams lined up together for some refreshments before taking their seats for the Royals game.
The Battle of the Badges game was played as a charity event to honor and establish the "Michael H. Wise Memorial Foundation". The goal of the foundation is to create a scholarship program for deserving students while honoring the late RPD officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2004. The widow of the slain officer was on hand to watch the games and to drop the puck for the Royals game.
Many thanks go out to all the individuals and corporations that helped to make this event take place. We specifically want to thank the Reading Royals, the Reading Parking Authority and the City of Reading for their part in making this game happen.
See photos from the event by clicking the Gallery links in the menu above.
