Girls’ hockey, community the ultimate winner in the 3rd Annual Guns-n-Hoses Hockey Charity Game

On Saturday, the ice rink at the Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla was commandeered for an epic showdown. One in which only the bravest of the brave heroes dared to take the ice ¸— police, fire, EMS, military, and other first responders — battled it out on the ice and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.

It was all part of the third annual Mat-Su Guns N' Hoses charity hockey game. The Guns N’ Hoses hockey game was played by police, fire, EMS, military and other first responder athletes from the community.

This hockey game was all about making a difference in the community as proceeds from the game go to supporting girls’ hockey in Alaska. And by keeping girls engaged in sports, there is the added benefits of fostering teamwork, goal-setting, and building confidence.

Before the puck was dropped, the crowd watched a demonstration of the K-9 unit deploying and taking down a suspect with support from other law enforcement officers.

The close action on the ice ended in a shootout with the firemen taking the win, setting the stage for their second win in a row,

The second annual Mat-Su Guns N’ Hoses hockey game was a giant success with an estimated 2,000 fans in attendance last year, and this year did not disappoint as fans packed the stands cheering on all the players.

The past two games have allowed the organization to donate to My House to support homeless youth in the Valley, the Mat-Su Home Builders to support a high school scholarship program and advocate for affordable housing, and the Mat-Su Fire Association so they could host their annual banquet. But the majority of the funds have benefited female youth hockey by providing female hockey players with the financial support and scholarships as well as sponsoring youth female hockey teams to attend hockey tournaments.

Funds raised from this annual game go directly to empowering female youth hockey players! We've provided financial support, scholarships, and sponsored teams, helping them attend top hockey tournaments. By fueling their dreams and supporting their growth, we're making a big impact on the future of female hockey.

For more information, please visit www.matsugunsnhoses.com