Badges vs. badges in charity hockey game

Jan. 6—Fierce rivals will clash this afternoon on the frozen surface of the George S. DeArment Ice Arena in a skirmish sure to catch the attention of area law enforcement authorities.

Despite the animosity — and the fact that nearly all involved are known to carry handguns on a regular basis— Aaron Rekich feels confident in the safety of the event — at least for spectators at rink-side.

"I have no security concerns at all," said Rekich, the executive director of Meadville Area Recreation Complex (MARC). "I think it'll be pretty safe — I don't know about on the ice though."

The ice, and potentially the penalty box as well, will be full of blue — the blue of regional police agencies, that is.

The puck drops on the third annual Meadville Battle of the Badges hockey game at 5 p.m. for a game that offers a new twist on what has quickly become a popular MARC tradition. Instead of the police vs. fire matchup of years past, the competition this year pits Crawford County's finest against the best Erie County has to offer.

With police officers from the two counties skating for the opposing teams, the on-ice action could get a bit frisky.

Rekich expects the level of competition to be "a little stiffer than normal."

"When you have two police departments going at it," he said, "that will get the juices flowing a little bit."

Sgt. David Gredler of Meadville Police Department, who has helped to organize the event since it started in 2022, hopes the "Battle" will make for an entertaining afternoon in support of a good cause.

"It adds an unknown aspect to it," Gredler said of the new opponent from the county to the north. "We have no idea of the talent they're bringing. Hopefully, it'll be fairly even, but we could get romped too — they play a lot more than our guys do."

The MARC has provided the Crawford County badges early morning practice time, but the whole team has not yet managed to make it on the ice at the same time, according to Gredler.

"Hopefully, we can hold our own," he said.

Regardless of the outcome, proceeds from the event will support the Opey Thomas Double Sock Scholarship, which helps less fortunate kids in the Crawford County area gain access to hockey opportunities. Gredler said another goal was to help grow higher-level youth hockey opportunities for Meadville-area youth.

In its first two years, the Battle of the Badges raised approximately $20,000 that helped fund the purchase of a new dehumidifier for the MARC's rink.

Gredler and Rekich encouraged spectators to arrive early. Free pucks will be given out to kids during the warmup period, Rekich said. Gredler, on the other hand, said visitors won't want to miss the special guest who will take part in the ceremonial puck drop that precedes the game: Sgt. David Stucke of the Erie Police Department.

In late July, Stucke was among a group of Erie officers who responded to a report of shots fired at a duplex near downtown Erie. A man inside the residence fired multiple shots, one of which struck Stucke in the leg.

A third-generation Erie police officer and former Marine, Stucke sought cover and applied a tourniquet to his wounded leg before other officers loaded him in a patrol vehicle and rushed him to UPMC Hamot for treatment, according to a statement on the incident from the city of Erie.

"We're excited and honored to have him there," Gredler said.

YOU CAN GO

The third annual Meadville Battle of the Badges hockey game takes place today. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the puck drops at 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and free for kids under 13 years old; admission for catered skybox seating is $25. Thanks to a donation in memory of Keith Beveridge of Meadville, who died last month, the first 100 general admission tickets are free. Admission includes access to the public skate period after the game.

Mike Crowley can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.