White Plains Battle of the Badges 2023

Warren Rosenberg - MetroSports Magazine

It wasn’t only the Zamboni driver who brought heat to ice of White Plains’ Ebserole Rink last evening. Members of the hockey team of the White Plains Fire Department were ablaze as they scored eight times in their win over their Police Department colleagues in the White Plains Public Safety Department.

The 26th Annual White Plains Battle of the Badges, a charity hockey event pitting teams of the White Plains Police Department and the White Plains Fire Department against each other on the ice, took place on Saturday evening, March 4th 2023.

Before a packed house of enthusiastic supporters and fans, the evening began with a center ice puck drop by six year old James Dennett accompanied by his family, Mayor Thomas Roach, Dr. David Chong, the White Plains Public Safety Commissioner and Lt. Frank Piccininni of the Fire Department and Sgt. Todd Horgan of the Police Department. The charity hockey game, donating proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley, was a special event for the Dennett family who had used the services the Valhalla Ronald McDonald house shortly after James’ birth. Over 100 local vendors and organizations helped support this cause by placing ads in the event Journal with additional funds collected through admissions tickets, a raffle, and an auction.

While the Police and Fire Departments work hand-in-hand and support each other in many ways, their hard play against each other did not diminish their mutual respect. In fact, part of the way they showed that respect was to put every effort in attempting to win the game. It took just over half of the first period of play for the firefighters to score first and just about three minutes more to score again with the first period of play ending in 2-0 advantage for the Fire Department.

Less than three minutes into the second period, the Fire Department scored again and, with just under six minutes remaining in the period, they scored again followed just two minutes later with their fifth goal of the game. The red-hot firefighters then added one more score, with just seconds remaining, to end the second period with a 6-0 lead.

The Police Department allowed one more score before putting the puck in the net of the firefighters and putting themselves on the scoreboard but at a 7-1 disadvantage.

One more late score by the Fire Department ended the contest with an 8-1 final score. In a show of mutual respect and brotherhood, the teams met on center ice after the game for friendly congratulations. Perhaps this is best summed up by the post-game post on the White Plains PBA social media site.

Last night the @whiteplains_pba squared off against the @whiteplainsfirehockey in the 26th annual Battle of the Badges charity hockey game. A competitive rivalry that always ends the way it started…As ONE @wppublicsafety. Thanks to all those who supported the @rmh_hudson_valley at this great event.

And by the White Plains Fire Hockey Team

Another year, another wonderful event! Thank you to all of the fans, the sponsors, the partners, and the community for coming out and supporting the 26th Annual Battle of the Badges. An awesome rivalry on the ice between us and the @whiteplains_pba - that said nothing but respect for our brothers and sisters in blue off the ice @wppublicsafety . A big shout out to @rmh_hudson_valley for everything you do, we love supporting you.