Butler firefighter’s goal is camaraderie, fun in Can-Am Games
Although Sean Sokolowski spent the week at a conference in Philadelphia, his heart was on ice in Butler County.
Sokolowski, a firefighter with Butler Bureau of Fire and training director for the Butler County Fire Chiefs Association, will play left wing with the Angry Beavers ice hockey team in the Can-Am Police-Fire Games.
His team is comprised of emergency responders from the Butler County area and those from out of town, as well as friends.
“A lot of times in emergency services, you have to seek jobs outside of your area,” Sokolowski said.
The team will play Friday, July 19, through Sunday, July 21, at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township.
Sokolowski said each team was required to pay for their own uniforms that include matching jerseys for both home and away games at a cost of about $4,000.
Sokolowski solicited and received $500 donations from Butler County Fire Chiefs Association, Jimmy Ellis Firefighters Foundation, Pittsburgh Mulching Innovations, Tudi Mechanical and 24-Hour ERS.
“So that cut the cost down so each player will only have to pay $90 instead of (more than) $200,” he said.
Dark gray, orange and white are the team’s colors. Home jerseys are white with orange and gray trim, while away jerseys are gray with white and orange trim.
Sokolowski has been an ice hockey player since a very young age, having had his skates laced up by an adult for the first time at age 5.
He played for the North Pittsburgh Amateur Hockey Association, then in freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams for Seneca Valley School District.
Sokolowski said the Angry Beavers will play in the open division at the games, where eight teams will compete for the trophy.
“I’m just excited to go skate and have a good time,” he said. “I’m not worried about winning or losing. It’s just about having fun.”
He said the local team members have practiced together a few times, but not with those who are flying or driving to the county to play.
The team’s youngest player is recent high school graduate Brady Ellis, 18, who is the son of Jimmy Ellis, the Adams Area Fire District vice president and Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire captain, who died two years ago.
The oldest Angry Beaver was supposed to be a man in his 60s, but he was injured playing in an adult league a few weeks ago.
Sokolowski said in addition to benefiting local businesses, holding the Can-Am Police-Fire Games in Butler County allows police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel from all over the U.S. to network with one another.
“And it’s nice to put like-minded individuals together and let them play the sports they enjoy,” he said. “It’ll give me a reason to start skating again and an opportunity to play.”
