Marquette, MI – March 14, 2018 – Marquette County’s Police and Fire Departments returned to Lakeview Arena tonight for the 35th Annual Pigs-N-Heat Fire Relief Fund Charity Hockey Game. We sent out the Sunny Morning Show Duo, Walt Lindala and Mike Plourde to be the announcers for the evening.
This annual event raises money for the Fire Relief Fund, a reserve designed to help an individual or family after suffering a fire. The fund covers hotel costs for those who lost their home, provides groceries and toiletries, and helps people begin the process of putting their lives back together. Starting 35 years ago the community event now draws between 2,500-3,000 people and raises approximately $15,00 to $20,000 each year. The fund has distributed around $395,000 to Marquette County Families since the creation of the relief fund in 1983.
The stands were packed for tonight’s game pitting the police against the fire department once again. After winning three years in a row, the Pigs were looking to take win number four and the Heat was hoped to end their opponents winning streak.
With the first face off around 7:00pm at Lakeview Arena, the Heat took off with the puck putting countless shots on the Pigs’ goalie, Mike Roth. Just over five minutes into the game Duck Schetter put one in the Pig’s net with the help of Jeff Sims and Tyler Harvala. Jeff Sims followed up with another goal for the Heat assisted by Duck Schetter and Ken Holma. The Pigs scored their first goal of the night with Jim Herrington getting one past Heat goalie, Brett Beaudry, aided by Mike Peterson. At the end of the first period the Pigs trailed the Heat 1-2.
Beginning the second period both teams were fired up and playing hard. There was a lot of turn over with the puck for each team, but ultimately the Heat pulled further ahead. Kurt Hillier picking up two more goals for the Heat, first assisted by Mike Mullen and John Peterson and then with Brian Tavvensaari and Brian Phillips ending the second period 4-1 in the Heat’s favor.
Breaking between the second and third period, Walt announced it was time to test out the crowds’ arms with a round of Chuck-A-Puck! People crowded up against the railings and hurled their pucks onto the ice. Picking up a the puck closest to the center as the winner, kids swept hundreds of unlucky pucks off the ice before the zamboni came out to fix up the arena for period three.
The third period was more of the same, heavy turn over and lots of shots on goal. The Pigs found an opening picking up a second goal with just 32.5 seconds left on the clock. Pushing themselves even harder, the Pigs closed the gap even more bringing the score to 3-4 with only 5 seconds left on the scoreboard. Despite the Pigs efforts to gain the lead, the Heat captured their first win since 2015 and skated off the ice with the Pigs-N-Heat Annual Charity Game Championship Trophy.
Congratulations to the Heat on winning the 2018 Pigs-N-Heat Charity Hockey Game. This year’s MVP Award went to Don “Duck” Schetter from the Marquette Township Fire Department.
Thank you to all of the participating departments
Playing for the Pigs: The Marquette Police Dept., Michigan State Police, Marquette Branch Prison, Marquette County Sheriff Dept., Ishpeming Police Dept., NMU Public Safety, and the Negaunee Police Dept.
Playing for the Heat: The Marquette City Fire Dept., Marquette Township Fire Dept., Chocolay Township Fire Dept., Skandia Township Fire Dept., Negaunee City Fire Dept., Ishpeming City Fire Dept., Champion Township Fire Dept., Ishpeming Township Fire Dept., and the Negaunee Township Fire Dept.
If you didn’t make it out and want to donate, or just want to give even more, visit the Pigs-N-Heat website to donate to the fund. You can also follow their Pigs-N-Heat Fire Relief Fund Facebook Page for the most recent news and updates.
Big thanks to all of the 2018 Sponsors who helped make this event possible for the 35th year.
