First responders laced up their skates for a good cause last Saturday as the City of Lloydminster hosted the annual Todd Gustavson Memorial Battle of the Badges hockey game.
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The charity matchup between Lloydminster Fire Rescue and the RCMP was held at the Cenovus Energy Hub for the first time since the multi-million-dollar facility opened, drawing community members together to support three local organizations: the Salvation Army, the Olive Tree and Inclusion Lloydminster.
Lloydminster Fire Rescue coach Curtis Johnson, who also serves as the department’s training captain, said both teams were eager to return to the ice for the annual contest.
“We’re excited. It took a lot of work to organize an event like this, and I know the fire crew and RCMP are super excited to get onto the ice,” said Johnson. “It’s been 365 days since the last one and hopefully Lloyd Fire Rescue can pull off the win.”
Johnson, an eight-year member of Lloydminster Fire Rescue, said the game carries special meaning for the department as it honours the legacy of the late Todd Gustavson, who helped start the event more than a decade ago.
“I never worked with Todd, but this event means a lot to us on the fire department,” he said. “Todd started this over a decade ago and it was renamed in his memory after he passed. His son is still on the fire department carrying on that firefighter legacy in the Gustavson name in Lloydminster.”
Beyond the friendly rivalry on the ice, Johnson said the event is another opportunity for first responders to give back to the community they serve every day.
“As first responders, we work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to support the community,” he said. “This is just another way to give back to local charities, the Salvation Army, Olive Tree and Inclusion Lloydminster.
“We care a lot about this community. We don’t just put our lives on the line, we are about helping in other ways, too.”
Johnson also noted the excitement of playing the game at the Cenovus Energy Hub.
“This is my first time being down at ice level at this facility, and it’s great that the community came together to raise money to give us something like this,” he said. “We’re all super excited. It’s going to be a great afternoon.”
On the RCMP bench, coach Bruce MacLean, unit commander for the Lloydminster Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), said his team came ready to defend last year’s title.
“We intend fully on defending the title and bringing home the trophy,” said MacLean, who is in his third year coaching the RCMP squad.
While the competition can be intense, MacLean said the real focus of the game is supporting the community.
“We want to get together with other emergency services and do something good for the community,” he said. “These are our brothers and sisters out in the fire department, but not today. Today is when we lay it on the line, put on a show for the good community and hopefully they come out and provide all sorts of charitable donations.”
MacLean said the charities supported by the event provide important services in Lloydminster.
“These are organizations that we, as first responders, want to support,” he said. “They all provide great support to the community.”
Although many RCMP members are posted to Lloydminster from elsewhere, MacLean said the city quickly becomes home.
“You’ll notice we’re on the guest bench today, but this is our home,” he said with a laugh. “We come and go in the community, but I can tell you, every one of the people wearing that uniform, this is their home and they treat it like that.
“We want to give back to the communities we live in. Our families are here, our families play hockey in this rink, so we want to make sure we’re giving back to Lloydminster as much as it’s given us.”
Major Bond Jennings of the Salvation Army said events like the Battle of the Badges play an important role in supporting organizations that assist residents facing food insecurity.
“It’s nice for the RCMP and the fire department to be doing this event in support of the Salvation Army and a couple other organizations,” said Jennings. “Funding to purchase food and necessary items is difficult to come by and having donations of food come in is great.”
Jennings noted that while the Salvation Army’s food shelves are currently stocked, demand remains steady.
“Our shelves are pretty good right now, but the demand is still high,” he said. “People are still coming looking for food assistance and I’m not sure if there will ever be an end to that because of the economy and things happening around the world.
“It’s wonderful that organizations are doing these events to support the community in this way.”
When all was said and done, the Lloydminster RCMP won 4-3 after scoring with 21 seconds remaining in overtime.
A total of $8,000 was raised for Inclusion Lloydminster and Border City Connects and 900 pounds of food for The Olive Tree and The Salvation Army.
“It was great to see such a close game, especially with the first overtime finish in the history of Battle of the Badges,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
“Just as important is the level of community support behind the event. Residents continue to show up in a big way to support organizations doing important work in Lloydminster. That support is what makes this event possible year after year.”
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