Police play sled hockey to benefit Mighty Penguins
Three teams filled with police officers competed in a sled hockey tournament Saturday at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry Township raising money for the Mighty Penguins.
The Mighty Penguins is an organization and team of sled hockey players. The players have physical disabilities, but fans might not see that as they fly around the ice.
“Our players are very proud of their sled hockey sport,” said Christine Hupkovich, executive director for the Mighty Penguins.
Both Cranberry and Adams township police departments fielded teams, as did Northern Regional Police Department, just across the border in Allegheny County.
Northern Regional defeated Cranberry in the finals by a 2-1 score, going on to play members of the Mighty Penguins team in an exhibition.
Cranberry Township Patrolman Rob Capezio said his team, as runners-up, also played against some of the Mighty Penguins team a little later, and he was impressed by their skill.
“They were showing us how talented they were, how well they could get up and down the ice and handle the puck, shoot and pass and doing it with precision,“ Capezio said.
Hupkovich said she credited coordinator Deb Joyce, whose family inspired the creation of the event, and Cranberry Township Detective Justin Hewitt for bringing the tournament back and in good fashion.
The tournament started in 2019 with Cranberry Township’s department alone playing the Mighty Penguins in a fundraiser exhibition game. In 2020 and 2021, the event was canceled due to COVID-19, but this year it once again raised money for the nonprofit sled hockey organization.
According to Hupkovich, this year’s tournament raised about $2,500 for the team. “Every dollar counts,” he said.
Adams Township officer Mike Bordt said it was a fun way to raise money for a good cause.
“Nobody on our team has ever played anything like that,” Bordt said. “A couple of our guys played hockey in high school, but nobody had been on a sled prior to (Saturday.)”
Bordt played goalie for his team, which lost two close games in the round robin stage. He said the game against Cranberry Township officers was particularly close, involving an overtime shootout.
“They got one up on us this year, but we’re going to take it all next year,“ Bordt said.
Both Bordt and Capezio agreed it was a great bonding experience between their departments, and everybody they talked to said they woke up a little sore Sunday.
“It’s very challenging. It’s not easy to do,” Capezio said. “It’s very entertaining for the community members, family, friends and other spectators to watch.“
Bordt said his family enjoyed watching him play, and a lot of other families enjoyed the experience too.
“All our wives and kids were there,” he said. “It wasn’t just a good department event, it was a good family event.“
Capezio added the event was also a great way for community members to see officers out of uniform and off duty.
“They get to see us completely out of our element and out there laughing and having fun,“ Capezio said. ”We want people to see that we’re out there playing, and we’re accessible. We’re part of this community also. We just happen to be police officers.“
Hupkovich said the event was an overall success thanks to its organizers, the officers and all the supporters.
“Thank you everyone who came out to support the Mighty Penguins,” she said. “We truly appreciate it, and I think everyone had a great time as well.“
