Nashua Officer Scores Big for Battle of the Badges

Nashua Police Officer Michael Dore was in top form on March 16 when he played in the sixth annual Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD) Battle of the Badges All-star Hockey Championship held at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. It's a game in which police officers and firefighters go head-to-head on the ice for a great cause.

Dore, a former Dartmouth, Mass., high school hockey standout, played in his fifth Battle of the Badges match and was recognized for being the highest fundraiser ($14,295) bringing his five-year total to more than $50,000.

Dore said he was honored to participate and receive recognition in this important charity event, as 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the children and families of CHaD. He has played for his CHaD buddy, for the past three years. Hannah lives with cystic fibrosis. Dore has formed a close bond with Hannah and her family.

The annual event, sponsored by AutoFair, raises money for CHaD. In total, nearly $190,000 to was raised, money that will go toward vital services provided at CHaD.

This year’s win went to Team West, with a final score of 6-5 with Michael Snide of Walpole Fire scoring twice, including the game-winner. Derek Newcomb of Plymouth Police was the winning goalie for the third year in a row. Phil Lamy of Bow Police added a goal and two assists for the winners. Dustin George from the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office scored two goals for Team East in the loss.

Top Team fundraiser went to Dore's Team East, which raised $67,500 thanks in large part to Dore's efforts.

Game attendees also came out to support Manchester Police Office Dan Doherty, who made his long-awaited return to the ice after being injured in the line of duty last year. Dan dropped the ceremonial puck at the start of the game and played with his teammates, scoring a goal in the second period of this lively game of “Good vs. Good.”

WMUR Sports Director and game founder Jamie Staton over saw the event’s on-ice program with the support of The Morning Buzz personalities Greg Kretschmar and Andy Blacksmith, who worked the crowd as this year’s Team East and Team West Celebrity Coaches. A special and surprise feature of the game included a marriage proposal at Center Ice by Team East goalie Evan Turcotte of the Wolfeboro Fire Department to Betsy Dominique during the second intermission. Dominique said yes and the crowd cheered.

“We owe the great success of this annual fundraising event to the many players that have made the great commitment to participate as not only players, but ambassadors of CHaD,” said Sharon Brown, Director of CHaD Community Relations. “These guys truly are heroes on and off the ice and we send them our sincere gratitude for their support of our CHaD kids.

Since its inception in 2008, Battle of the Badges total donations have raised nearly $1 million for CHaD. Fundraising is still available at CHaDHockey.org.

About CHaD
As New Hampshire's only full-service, comprehensive children's hospital, Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) is committed to providing outstanding compassionate care for children and families through a regional system of care. Their physician expertise provides primary, specialty, and tertiary care to the children of New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond, as northern New England’s children’s hospital. For patients living in southern and coastal New Hampshire, CHaD offers a comprehensive range of pediatric medical and surgical outpatient specialty services at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, Wentworth-Douglas Hospital in Dover and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Nashua. For more information visit www.chadkids.org.