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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Play Host To First Annual "Battle of the Badges"

January 9, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL, the Office of the Mayor of the City of Reading, the Reading Fire Department, and the Reading Police Department, today jointly announced that the Royals will host a charity game between the Reading Fire and Police Department hockey teams on Sunday, February 19. The First Annual "Battle of the Badges" will be played beginning at 1:05 pm, immediately preceding the Royals game against the Trenton Titans, the starting time for which has been moved to 3:35 pm.

Fans who purchase a ticket to the Royals' game for February 19 will also gain admittance to the "Battle of the Badges". A portion of every ticket sold to fans that purchase their tickets through the Royals' office (610-898-7285) or at the Sovereign Center Box Office will go to the Michael H. Wise II Memorial Foundation where it will be applied to fund a scholarship program for family members of the Reading Fire and Police Departments.

Mayor Thomas McMahon of the City of Reading stated, "we believe that this is a great event for the City of Reading. We're bringing together our fire and police departments in a fun-but I'm sure competitive-hockey game to raise awareness and money for the families of these dedicated public servants who so proudly serve our community. Our city is proud of the Royals and what professional hockey has brought to our community, and we're thankful that the Royals' organization has created this opportunity to bring us all together for a great cause."

Chief Charles Broad of the Reading Police Department, stated, "we're excited for this match-up against the fire department's hockey team. Of course, the police department looks forward to participating in an event that will serve to help the families of our fellow police officers and firefighters. That being said, however, we also expect a competitive and hotly contested game out on the ice."

Chief William Rehr of the Reading Fire Department stated, "there's no question that, when we're doing our jobs to serve the community of Reading, the police and fire departments work closely together to achieve the same goal of ensuring the safety of the citizens in our city. But make no mistake, when the fire department's hockey team takes the ice, we intend to win the game. Nonetheless, we're extremely pleased to join with the police department, the Mayor and the Royals, in this effort to raise money and awareness for the Michael H. Wise II Foundation."

Gordon Kaye, the general manager of the Royals, stated, "the Royals' organization is proud to have this opportunity to serve as the host for this historic event. We're confident that the police and fire departments are going to have a competitive hockey game that will get all the fans in our community involved and excited and will serve as a tremendous lead-in to the Royals' match-up with the Trenton Titans that Sunday afternoon. I'm hesitant to go out on a limb to predict a winner in the Battle of the Badges, other than to say that we believe that the Michael H. Wise II Foundation, the families of police officers and firefighters, and the entire city of Reading will be the ultimate winners in this community event."

Additional donations to the Michael H. Wise II Foundation may be made by mailing a check to: Royals Charities, Attn: Michael H. Wise Foundation, 645 Penn St., 3rd Fl, Reading, PA 19601.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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