By Adam Przeslak, staff reporter.
A handful of firefighters and police officers from the Saginaw area will compete against each other in a charity hockey game at the Dow Event Center on Saturday Nov. 12. This is the 10th annual Guns and Hoses charity game hosted by the Saginaw Spirit.
The charity game benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), a nonprofit organization that aids research and treatment of muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other similar muscular diseases. Matt Bishop, a 13-year-old New Lothrop native diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia, will drop the puck at the charity game. Bishop serves as a MDA Michigan ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ and this will mark his second time dropping the puck at the annual charity event.
Delta College alumni Brandon Hausbeck, a 26-year-old Lieutenant with the Saginaw Fire Department, has been participating in the Guns and Hoses event for seven years now. Hausbeck, who had played hockey in his younger years, loves the idea of the charity game pitting the two departments of public safety against each other.
“It’s just something a little out of the ordinary. It’s not going and begging for donations for a charity or something,” says Hausbeck. “People can come watch a hockey game and support a good cause.”
Police officers and firefighters from throughout the Saginaw area bring an exciting but friendly rivalry to the ice. They may seem like enemies, but they are truly allies in the fight against muscular dystrophy.
“It’s really good to see those kids and see what exactly the fundraising is going to. The real reason we are there is those kids,” says Hausbeck.
The Guns and Hoses event will be played prior to the Saginaw Spirit taking on the Peterborough Petes. Tickets to get into both games are $13 and $5 of the ticket price is donated to the MDA.
“Come out and support the cause,” Hausbeck says. “It’s a good time. It’s a good family event.”
Tickets can be purchased through the MDA by contacting Cindy Clark at (517) 706-0348 or the Saginaw Spirit by contacting Allison Vezina at (989) 497-7747. Group tickets can be bought online saginawspirit.net/groupsales usuing the username guns&hoses2016 and the password MDA.