There were some very non-regulation pieces of equipment, a potato cannon that refused to work, coffee and yoga breaks, and a special appearance by the Hansen Brothers at the fifth Guns and Hoses charity hockey game in Ashcroft on Jan. 25, which pitted a team of firefighters against a team of law enforcement officers.
It was a hard-fought game, with plenty of chances at both ends of the ice at Drylands Arena, but despite a valiant effort by the Guns team, the Hoses won by a score of 5–2, notching their fourth win since the event — the brainchild of RCMP Cst. Chris Buckland — started in 2020.
Buckland was stationed in Ashcroft when he proposed the first game, which raised funds to allow Ashcroft Fire Rescue to purchase and install smoke detectors for residents who did not have one. Since then the games have benefited the Lytton Fire Department (2022), the Honour Ranch (2023), and the Ashcroft and District Hospice Society (2024).
Buckland has now transferred to Merritt, but he was back to captain the Guns team in this year's game, which raised funds to help the Ashcroft HUB Society. The Hoses team was captained by Ashcroft Fire Rescue deputy chief Greg Hiltz, who proudly raised the trophy at the end of the game, which was attended by more than 400 people and featured its usual share of antics.
At one point in the first period, the Guns team stopped for coffee and doughnuts courtesy of the Ashcroft Bakery. Not to be outdone, the Hoses team responded with some on-ice yoga moves, under the guidance of yoga instructor Sylvia Caston. The Hansen Brothers took a pre-game skate for the Guns team and roughed up the Hoses team, who responded later in the game by using a couple of sticks that definitely flouted the rules. The Guns team attempted to deploy a potato cannon late in the game, but it experienced technical difficulties and refused to cooperate.
In addition to the hockey action and hi-jinks, there was an array of raffle baskets, with items donated by many local businesses, organizations, and people, two 30/70 draws, and a halftime puck toss contest. Volunteers from the Ashcroft and District Lions Club were out in force to assist with everything, from manning the door to selling raffle and draw tickets, and volunteers from Thompson-Cariboo Minor Hockey were on hand to staff the concession, which had line-ups for much of the evening.
When the money from the two draws, raffle prizes, puck toss, and donations at the door was tallied, the result was more than $10,200 raised for the HUB Society. Last year the society purchased the HUB building — formerly Ashcroft Elementary School — after operating it on a lease from School District No. 74 since 2015, and while it gives the society more freedom, it comes with challenges, notably a roof that is badly in need of replacement.
HUB executive director Jessica Clement, who was at centre ice for the ceremonial puck drop at the start of the game, says it was amazing to see the number of people who came out to support both the hockey game and the HUB. She explained that the money raised will go towards replacing the roof of the building, which is more than 60 years old.
"What it does for us is put us one step closer to being able to replace the roof, which is the biggest priority we have this year," she said. "We're looking at approximately $700,000 to replace the entire roof, which is original to the building. It needed to be replaced six years ago: we were told it needed to be done right away, but we couldn’t do it as we didn’t own the building.
"Showing funding agencies that we have capital funds shows that we have the support of the community, and that funders should support it because the community supports it."
“Thank you so much for tonight's entertainment!” wrote HUB Society board member Deb Tuohey after the game. “As one of the board members of the Ashcroft HUB, I am overwhelmed by the support of our communities. Big thanks to the Lions; they outdid themselves to help us! This is a great start to replacing the roof on our building!”
“Much love to our friends in blue; you played a good game!” said Ashcroft Fire Rescue fire chief Josh White. “Thanks to both teams for getting rid of those winter blues with some good laughs! Til next year my friends!”