The New York City Fire Department triumphed over the New York City Police Department in their annual charity hockey match, but the event was not without its controversies.
During the 50th Anniversary Hockey Heroes game at UBS Arena, a fierce brawl erupted following a hard check against the glass that led to a major altercation behind the net.
Referees found it challenging to control the chaos as players from both teams eagerly joined the fray. The scene was particularly jarring for a young spectator who was seen excitedly banging on the glass during the scuffle.
The physical confrontations did not end with that incident. Later in the game, a minor shove by an FDNY player provoked an NYPD player into throwing punches, escalating tensions further. At the time of this second skirmish in the second period, FDNY was leading 4-0.
Although the NYPD attempted a comeback, the firefighters ultimately clinched a 6-5 victory, marking their sixth win in the past seven years.
Despite the on-ice violence, the event successfully raised thousands of dollars for first responder charities, a detail highlighted by the FDNY in a post-game Instagram post celebrating the spirited competition.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar, even larger brawl that occurred during the same charity event a decade ago, underlining the intense rivalry that exists between these two teams even in the context of charitable endeavors.
