Members of the Timmins Police Service are talking a big game ahead of the Timmins NHL Alumni Hockey Game this Thursday at the McIntyre Community Centre, which will see members of Timmins Law Enforcement take on some NHL greats on the ice.

“They think they’re pretty hot stuff,” said Marc Depatie, Communications Coordinator for the Timmins Police Service, “and we’re going to throw cold water on that.”

Depatie is referring to the Timmins Police Service members taking on NHL Hockey greats like Jay Wells, Dan Daoust, Bryan Muir, Mark Napier, and Owen Nolan.

“It’s sad that they didn’t bring enough players with them,” Depatie joked, “and perhaps they should be making some emergency calls because we intend on showing them, in fact, who has hockey supremacy in the Timmins area.”

The Timmins NHL Alumni Hockey Game is supporting Special Olympics Ontario and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, organizations that the Timmins Police Service has been supporting for years. Special Olympics Ontario benefits from all the funds raised for this special hockey game.

“This allows persons of, perhaps, meager means to participate fully at the provincial level and the federal level at different competitions throughout Ontario and Canada so that they’re able to represent the Timmins area with distinction,” said Depatie.

There are a number of people in our community that represent the City of Timmins at various Special Olympic events, both provincially and federally. Many Special Olympians have earned gold, silver and bronze medals for the specialty events they participate in, and Depatie says it’s important that they get the proper support so they can continue competing.

“We have to do what we can to bolster their costs that are associated with their training so they can represent the City of Timmins,” said Depatie.

The funds raised go towards training, travel costs and more for the Special Olympians, and the Timmins Police Service is happy to participate in helping offset some of the costs that come with pursuing Special Olympic Excellence. Some of the Special Olympians in the area include Kevin Ford from South Porcupine and Eric Proulx, a member of the TPS.

 

This game is also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics, which is a milestone for the organization in our area. The game is helping promote one of the main themes behind the Special Olympics: inclusion.

“We’re also focused on the element of creating inclusion for these individuals,” said Depatie, “these people train very strenuously to become better Special Olympians. And their efforts have to be recognized. So we’re eager to raise funds for them, but also create an element of inclusion, which is an element that the City of Timmins offers in its participation of these events.”

The hockey game promises to be fun for the whole family and Depatie is looking forward to seeing a large crowd come out and support the local Law Enforcement All Stars. He says the Timmins Police team will bring a fierce but friendly team to the arena so they can reacquire hockey supremacy in the Timmins area.

Some of the Timmins Police Service members that will be on the ice on Thursday include Const. Brett Columbus, Sgt. Tom Chyphya, and the Chief and Deputy Chief working as bench bosses.

 

The Timmins NHL Alumni Hockey Game is happening at the McIntyre Community Centre this Thursday, Nov. 22nd. Doors open at 6 PM and the puck drops at 7 PM.

For tickets and more information, go to the Facebook event page. 

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