Firefighters hoist Guns and Hoses Cup, help raise $2,900 for charity

Iqaluit firefighters hosed their handcuff-toting opponents Sunday night at Arnaitok Arena, as this year’s Guns and Hoses charity hockey game raised a record $2,900 for men’s mental health services.

Firefighters defenceman Nick Dunphy clears the puck away from the crease after a save by goalie Connor Ogg early in the second period. (Photo by Daron Letts)

“We’re already planning ideas for next year,” said fire Chief Solomon Tagak, following the hard-fought contest.

The Iqaluit RCMP and fire department collected six grocery bags for Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre, making it a win off the ice for all involved, he said.

On the ice, the firefighters were the decisive victors winning 9-2. Here’s how it went down:

Tagak’s firefighters won the opening faceoff, keeping the puck in the RCMP’s zone for much of the first two minutes. Cops’ goalie Jens Jeppeson stopped close to a dozen shots before his teammates managed to lug the puck to centre ice.

Josh Pollock with the Mounties broke free, narrowly missing the firefighters’ net. RCMP forward Rene Daoust kept the pressure on with a high shot, but firefighters’ goalie Connor Ogg held the cops at bay with an outstretched glove.

The firefighters scored first, five minutes in.

Players with the Iqaluit RCMP and fire department shake hands following the Guns and Hoses Cup, on Sunday evening. (Photo by Daron Letts)

RCMP’s Pollock nearly tied it, first firing the puck past Ogg after the ensuing faceoff only to graze the crossbar and then slipping another shot past Ogg, but it too pinged off metal.

Back in the RCMP end, Jeppeson dove for a save but firefighter Nathan Link snagged the rebound and went high, scoring his team’s second goal.

The firefighters scored two more to finish the first period leading 4-0.

The second period opened with a charge from RCMP. Pollock blew through centre ice, passing to Daoust who put the red team on the scoreboard.

Firefighter Taylor Clark took an inadvertent Mountie bodycheck that put her on her back. She sprung up quickly, though, firing a shot that narrowly missed.

Her energy spread as a cascade of firefighter breakaways ended in an unassisted goal by former firefighter Nick Dunphy, making it 5-1 for the fire department.

RCMP recovered quickly, with Pollock scoring 30 seconds later. But the firefighters answered with two more goals before the buzzer to take a 7-2 lead.

The third period was like a frenetic ping-pong match with end-to-end action. The firefighters sealed their win with two more goals to prevail 9-2.

Both sides agreed the lopsided score didn’t reflect the tight action.

Firefighters’ goalie Connor Ogg holds the Guns and Hoses Cup alongside forward Genny Frick, after their team defeated the Iqaluit RCMP 9-2 on Sunday night. (Photo by Daron Letts)

“It was pretty evenly matched,” said Dunphy, who served eight years as a volunteer firefighter at the Iqaluit airport. “We had the better bounces go our way. I found it very fun.”

RCMP Staff Sgt. Chris Smith, who has served 22 years on the service including 17 in Nunavut, concurred.

“There were a few rusty spots in the middle, but it was a good game. There were a lot of smiles and laughter.”

The fire department will host its annual drive for the food centre on Dec. 6, collecting food donations at Northmart from 9 a.m. until noon and then at Arctic Ventures from 1 to 4 p.m.