The EPA Blues pulled off a tight 5-3 win over the Edmonton Firefighters in the annual Battle of the Badges at Rogers Place. The game helps raise funds for charities that support emergency organizations.

The Blues built up a 3-0 lead, but Edmonton Fire rallied to tie it which set the table for an exciting finish in the third period. As usual, it was a feisty affair. One scrum involved a player from Edmonton Fire tussling in the EPA bench.

“We have a good rivalry with fire. We play them in our league and at these charity games. So, big rivalry with them,” explained EPA forward Matt Karasiuk.

The game fell on the one-year anniversary of the deaths of Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan. Ryan was well-known in the Spruce Grove hockey community. In the fact, the officiating crew for the Battle of the Badges had all worked with Brett as referees.

For Karasiuk, who scored the game-winning goal, the event marked the end of an emotional and challenging week as members reflected on the loss of their fallen colleagues. “It meant a lot to me…A lot of emotion in this one…I was thinking about them.”