As local fire crews traded their hoses for hockey sticks on Saturday evening, the event drew a full house and raised much‑needed support for the province‑wide emergency air service. The friendly matchup between neighbouring departments helped showcase how small communities can team up for a bigger mission.
Local departments unite for good
Chris Leckie, Fire Chief of the MacGregor Fire Department, says the evening was about much more than competition. He notes that it “was a great evening” and that “everybody worked their butts off, right from the drop of the puck.”
Leckie adds that the event sought to strike a balance between fun and fundraising; he says they were out there “to have some fun … and give a little bit of entertainment,” while keeping the goal of supporting the service front‑of‑mind.
He continues that if the need arises, the departments are ready to assist again: “If we need more, we can help out in the future. I think we’re there to help.”
STARS sees strong community support
Jeremy Sugimoto, Pilot with STARS, says the turnout surpassed expectations. He notes that the event “was very well run. We were overwhelmed by the support of Austin and MacGregor.”
Sugimoto adds that they had originally heard an expectation of around 300 in attendance, and says that number appears to have been achieved.
He continues that seeing the community rally behind the service is meaningful: “The people of MacGregor and Austin really turned out to support STARS tonight, and that’s a little bit heart‑warming.”
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Teamwork on and off the ice
James Zacharias, Fire Chief of the Austin Fire Department, emphasises that though the departments faced off in sport, they stand shoulder to shoulder when the situation calls for it. He notes that while they had fun, the mission remains the same: “STARS is the winner here, we’re definitely doing this for STARS.”
Zacharias adds that the entertainment side of the evening was unexpected even to them: “When it comes to entertainment on the ice, this is probably one of the most entertaining games I’ve been to this year.”
He continues that while the skills were broad and the puck might have flown in all directions, the result was positive: “We’re all one team here, we’re working together, and I think it’s great.”
