Fall Classic brings police to the arena

December 11, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The seventh annual Police Fall Classic Hockey Tournament took place at Honeywood Arena on Thursday, December 1, with teams representing police services around the region taking part.

Members of Dufferin County OPP, Peel Regional Police, Huronia West OPP, Caledon OPP, and even a foreign entry from Buffalo, New York, Homeland Security, put on the skates for the mid-week tournament to raise funds for a good cause.

The focus of the tournament was to raise funds for Community Safety Partners, (formerly Safe Communities of the Hill Country), the OPP Kids Program, and the Shelburne Food Bank.

“We have six teams playing today,” said tournament organizer Detective Constable Mark Taylor of Dufferin County OPP. “The proceeds go to Community Safety Partners, our Kids Program, and the food bank. There are no winners in the tournament. The tournament was started when a bunch of us became too old to play competitive hockey but still wanted to play. We used to play competitive hockey with other police services at the international police tournament. A lot of these guys on the ice were rivals back then. Now we’re too old to play in the competitive leagues, so I wanted to put on something where we can get back together and play hockey against each other. I didn’t want it to be competitive, I wanted everyone to enjoy it. We started off with four teams and now we’re up to six. It’s been great.”

The OPP Kids Program, which receives support from the tournament, is a program designed to help kids get started on the right path.

“It teaches the kids about obeying the law, drug awareness and which drugs to stay away from,” explained OPP Constable Paul Nanceaivell, who goes to schools to talk to kids. “It’s an anti-bullying program as well and internet safety is a big part of it. We go into the schools. It’s a four week program. I do five elementary schools around Orangeville and Shelburne. It’s similar to the DARE program but the OPP has ownership of this program. We can change or update it. This program was designed with the Ministry of Education’s approval. It fits the curriculum.”

This year the tournament had a celebrity guest on the ice.

Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo took part – not as a musician, but as a pretty talented hockey player who supports the cause. Cuddy has property in the area and leant his celebrity status to the cause.

“This event was once again successful due to the outstanding support and generosity from AirFX Heating and Air Conditioning – Leo and Jane Rooyakkers and numerous other sponsors who all stepped up to support the cause,” Taylor said.

The following businesses and individuals are all also responsible for this success: Ruth Hand in memory of Chris Hand – Hand Bookkeeping Service, Shelburne Foodland (Sandy Bell) Champ Burger, Jamison and Son’s Roofing, Evans and Adams Law Firm, I Pro Realty (Chris Reed), Rotomill, Abflex Rubber Inc. (Kirk Angel). The High Rise Group of Toronto, Molson’s Breweries, Creemore Springs, Huron Tractor (Chris Hare), Pillar to Post Home Inspection (Dennis Jeronimo), Alliance Agri-Turf Inc., Mansfield General Store, Sun Life Financial (Peter Quinlan), Hydro One, Trip Central.ca, Gimme Shelter, Jamie Tardif and Mike Fazackerley.