89ers Hockey Team From Prince George's County Snags 1st In Florida Charity Tourney

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — When they aren't busy battling blazes or searching for suspects, Prince George's County firefighters and police officers hit the ice to play organized hockey though public safety hockey clubs.

The Maryland Heroes Hockey League happens to be the largest public safety hockey league on the East Coast, not including the FDNY in-house league, and the only public safety hockey league in the DC/MD region, according to the league. Their season typically runs in the fall through the winter, concluding with a Heroes Championship tournament in March. There are a dozen teams with players from almost every public safety agency in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

"The Gardens Ice House is proud to be the home of the Maryland Heroes Hockey League. The league represents the hard working men and women in our public service community and provides them an opportunity to play the game we all love," Billy Carr, general manager and vice president, told Patch.

The 89ers from Prince George's traveled to compete in the Orlando Firefighter Hockey Club's annual charity hockey tournament, Battle of the Badges, which raises funds to be donated to the families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. They earned first place in their division.

Earlier in January, two teams of Maryland State Police troopers, allied officers, firefighters and friends participated in the annual first responder “Troopers Helping Troopers” tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The event raised more than $80,000 to support the families of troopers in need.

"Much appreciation to many local teams and their families and friends who trekked up to Hershey for a good, fun hockey weekend," the Maryland State Police said on its Facebook page.

The Howard County Heat hockey team also competed in Battle of the Badges. In that tournament, they snagged their second consecutive championship title, according to the program.

There's still time to catch your favorite public safety hockey team on ice yet this season. There will be regular season games Feb. 2 and Feb. 9, with playoffs starting Feb. 16, then Feb. 23 and the championship March 14.