Two amateur hockey teams will face off this weekend for a worthy cause, and one team isn’t going down without a fight.

The Timmins Professional Firefighters Association is facing the Timmins District Hospital “Code Blue” Doctors for a charity hockey game this Sunday to raise money for two local families. The money raised will support the Fortier and Caron families as their children battle difficult medical conditions.

Andrew Hubbert is a firefighter at the Timmins Fire Department who will be playing at Sunday’s game. The Timmins Firefighters faced the Code Blue Doctors last year for a charity hockey match, and when asked if he has any fighting words for the Code Blue team, Hubbert laughed.

“Actually, last year in my radio interview, I may have spoken too soon, saying that we were undefeated,” Hubbert chuckled, “and they ended up beating us, I think it was 8-4.”

Hubbert says this year the firefighters have made a few changes to their strategy.

“I think, this year, we’ve made a few changes in the dressing room. We’ve made a few coaching changes. And maybe we’ll get a good pre-game speech,” he said.

While the teams may be shaky on the ice, the cause behind the charity match is strong.

“We’re just trying to raise funds for these two families,” Hubbert said, “their kids have some medical complications and they need some help.”

Six year old Robin Fortier has diastrophic dysplasia and his family will be going to the United States for him to have surgery. A previous surgery didn’t go well and the family had a tough time finding someone in Canada that was able to help him. This game will help raise funds for his family to make the trip across the border and cover travel and medical expenses.

One and a half year old Payton Caron was born with a congenital heart defect and has respiratory issues. She and her family are in a hospital in Ottawa right now, and the family is in and out of hospital every few months. The money raised will go towards travel costs, accommodations and medical equipment.

Hubbert has two nephews and he says if anything happened to them, he hopes the community would come together like the Timmins community has for these families.

“These parents have to know that we’re going to be there for them,” said Hubbert, “to help them through these tough times.”

The Fundraiser Hockey Game is this Sunday, April 14th at 6:30 PM at the McIntyre arena. You can make a donation through the Timmins Professional Firefighters Association page here. You can also call the fire department at 705-360-2626 to make a donation over the phone. Or you can go to the Fire Hall on Cedar Street South and make a donation in person.

While the game is about raising money for the Fortier and Caron families, Hubbert says the firefighters are ready to have some fun, and maybe win the game.

“I hate to say it, but we brought our A-game last year,” he laughed, “so we’ll see what happens this year. […] But to be honest, it was so much fun last year and that’s what this is all about. Having fun and raising a bit of money for these families.”

His parting words, however, were fighting words.

“Watch out doctors!”

 

 

–With files from Timmins Today

Filed under: Local News