Westford’s first responders, including members of the Westford Police Department (WPD) and the Westford Fire Department (WFD), will take to the ice in a hockey game fundraiser against a Westford Academy co-ed team on Sunday, Feb. 22 from 1 p.m to 5 p.m at the Skate 3 Hockey Arena. All money raised from ticket sales and donations will go towards WA hockey teams and Westford’s first responders.
Tickets for the event are being sold at $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12 years old as well as seniors. In addition, donations will be accepted when purchasing tickets online, and WA hockey plans to use this money for ice time, team merchandise, and equipment.
“This event is really important to the team,” junior captain Kiley Carmichael said. “It’s an amazing and fun opportunity for those participating in it to help [the community].”
The match was organized by the Friends of WA Hockey, a non-profit organization made up of parents and community members who work together to support the hockey programs in the Westford school system.
According to WA Boys’ Hockey head coach Chris Carpenter, many WA hockey alumni and parents of current WA hockey players are first responders in Westford and surrounding towns.
“[The amount of players] makes the event a little more special, as you [can] see the connection between the program and first responders,” Carpenter said.
Westford’s co-ed hockey team is composed of an equal number of players from the boys’ and girls’ varsity hockey teams. According to senior captain Peter Burns, mostly upperclassmen will be playing in the game. Players include Burns, senior Cam Hoagland, and junior captains Nick Kane, Carmichael, and Alexis McDonough.
“[When choosing who gets to play] for the boys’ program, I started with the upperclassmen and then worked my way down the roster based on grade,” Carpenter said. “It is an optional charity event, but the players were all interested in participating.”
According to Burns, many of the first responders in Westford have a history with playing hockey and will make the game more entertaining.
“First responders play such a huge role in our community and we want to do what we can to acknowledge them,” Burns said. “We’re just hoping that all of the first responders’ families, WA hockey families, and WA students show up and have a good time.”
