Iqaluit firefighters hope ‘third time’s a charm’ in annual charity hockey game

Saturday’s third annual Guns and Hoses charity hockey game between the RCMP and the Iqaluit fire department may be shaping up to be a tortoise-and-hare contest.

The RCMP is the two-time defending champion team, including last year’s 7-3 victory.

But are the officers hitting the ice to practise in the final week before the puck drops again?

“No,” said Cpl. George Henrie, the RCMP’s spokesperson.

He said the officers remain confident they will triumph with a three-peat.

Some on the firefighters’ team, however, never left the ice.

Lt. Emily Galipo’s team includes five women who suit up every week as players in the Iqaluit men’s recreational hockey league.

Lt. Emily Galipo, of the Iqaluit fire department, is the co-organizer of the third-annual charity hockey game against the RCMP. (Photo by Daron Letts)

Galipo, who scored a goal in last year’s game, believes “the third time’s a charm” as she assesses her team’s chances this year.

“Hopefully we beat them,” she said. “I think we have a shot.”

Galipo, who plays left wing, suits up for about 45 games each season on team Tulugaq in the men’s league. One of her fellow female players plays on The Herd. The other three women keep limber as subs for other teams.

All of them grew up playing competitive hockey, said Galipo, who picked up a stick for the first time at age two in her back-yard rink in Vaughan, Ont.

Perseverance paid off as Galipo continued her hockey career with two years playing for York University before she moved onto firefighting. She began her career in Iqaluit in 2020 and helped launch the annual charity game not long after.

Whatever the score, Iqaluit wins. Last year’s game resulted in approximately $2,100 raised for the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre in Iqaluit and men’s mental health initiatives as part of Movember.

“We’ll try to beat those totals this year,” Galipo said.

The entry fee for the Guns and Hoses charity hockey game is one non-perishable food item for the Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre.

People are also invited to offer support for families in need this winter by donating toys and non-perishable food items at the latest annual Pack the Back event.

“We are collaborating with Tundra Buddies Daycare, a charitable organization that will ensure all donated items are distributed to families in need within our community,” said Geoff Byrne, the city’s economic development officer.

The city has partnered with the Iqaluit fire department and the Iqaluit Firefighters Association to host the annual donation drive.

Donations will be collected from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Northmart and then from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Arctic Ventures on Dec. 7.

Toys should ideally be wrapped, with the age and gender specified on the tag, Byrne stated in the city’s news release. Cash donations will also be accepted, he added.

The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Arctic Winter Games arena.