Airmen, Cops face off for charity

Photo By 2nd Lt. Zachary Cacicia | Bernard Pecoraro, Dover Eagles forward, fist-bumps teammates after scoring a goal during a charity hockey game March 11, 2017, at the Centre Ice Rink in Harrington, Del. Pecoraro works as a response force member with the 436th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia)  

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, UNITED STATES

03.13.2017

Story by Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia 

436th Airlift Wing

The Dover Eagles and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 15 hockey teams played against each other in a charity game March 11, 2017, at the Centre Ice Rink in Harrington, Delaware.

The proceeds from the game, totaling $2,800, went to the family of Correctional Officer Lt. Steven Floyd, who was recently killed in the line of duty during a riot at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. Floyd’s widow, Saundra Floyd, attended the game and dropped the ceremonial first puck.

“These are a great bunch of people,” said David Gist, FOP Lodge 15 president. “We have fun every year, it’s competitive, and most importantly, we filled the stands. So it’s a win-win for everybody.”

Charity hockey games between the Eagles and FOP are nothing new. Over the past few years, the organizations have played an annual game to raise money for good causes and organizations.

“It started a couple of years back,” said Gist. “We decided we were going to get together for charity. We started with the Wounded Warrior Fund and the following year we did the COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) fund. Now with the tragedy we had at the prison, we thought of nothing better and decided to step up and help the Floyd family out, and the Air Force was more than willing to help and step up to the plate like they always do.”

The game was organized by Christina Kober, Dover Police Department 911 manager and FOP Lodge 15 member, who stated that she estimated that a couple of hundred people attended the game.

As for the gameplay, it was a close competitive match up. The 2015 game saw an Eagle 7-5 victory, while 2016 went the other way with a 9-7 FOP win. This year’s match up came down to the end; ending in a 6-4 Eagles win.

“During the first period, we were trying to get used to each other,” said Donny Mahuex, Dover Eagles defenseman. “By the second and third, we came back and were able to pull off the win.”

The Dover Eagles hockey team is comprised of active duty and Reserve Airmen, along with military dependents, Civil Air Patrol members, Department of Defense civilian employees and military retirees and veterans.

“It was for a great cause,” said Mahuex. “I’m glad we could do it.”

• Date Taken: 03.13.2017
• Date Posted: 03.13.2017 17:00
• Story ID: 226694
• Location: DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DE, US