About the Game
On March 18th firefighters, police officers and first responders from across the state of New Hampshire battled it out in one incredible competition — on and off the ice. Presented by long-time partner, The Elliot Perry Foundation, the 15th annual Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship raised critical awareness and funds for Dartmouth Health Children's and the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (CHaD).
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 game has raised over $230,000 (and counting!), bringing our 15 year total to more than $3.1 million raised. Fundraising remains open through June 30th!
2023 Stats:
Champions: Team Police 5, Team Fire 1
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $73,207
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Michael Snide, Claremont Fire - $17,445
History of the Game
2008
The CHaD Battle of the Badges was born in 2008. Prompted by WMUR Sports Director and event founder Jamie Staton, an enthusiastic bunch of firefighters and police officers got together, raised some money, played some hockey and had a great time. The event raised a remarkable $77,000 for the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. Team Police won the game, 9-3.
Champions: Team Police 9, Team Fire 3
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Fire
Highest Individual Fundraiser: John Sylvester, Portsmouth Fire
2009
Bragging rights were officially on the line in 2009. To sweeten the pot, the winning team would not only take home the trophy, but would also capture the use of the Monarchs' Visitor Locker Room the following year. The event raised a very impressive $102,000 while Team Fire evened the series with a 7-3 victory.
Champions: Team Fire 7, Team Police 3
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Fire
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police
2010
The gloves came off in 2010 with Fire winning its second championship in a row, 4-3. Many players, now seasoned veterans of the event, hit their stride, and the event went to new heights. The event raised an amazing $131,000 until a late anonymous donation brought the event total to an astonishing $231,000.
Champions: Team Fire 4, Team Police 3
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Fire
Highest Individual Fundraiser: John Sylvester, Portsmouth Fire
2011
The 2011 CHaD Battle of the Badges was intense, competitive and wildly fun to watch. At the conclusion, nothing was left on the ice but memories, a taste of success for each team, and pride in the $202,000 raised for CHaD kids and families. Team Police evened the series thanks to its 4-2 win.
Champions: Team Police 4, Team Fire 2
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Fire - $65,730
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $12,823
2012
The event was tied up at two games apiece going into 2012. Five years of smiles, spills, and countless hours by this group of truly heroic and dedicated individuals culminated in a tie-breaking game with Team Police pushing ahead on the heels of a 5-2 win. Over $180,000 was raised for the kids at CHaD that night and the scales tipped in the Police Team’s favor.
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $73,475
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $16,125
2013
The event took on a different look in 2013 and raised $194,000. The best of the red and blue joined forces in the first-ever CHaD Battle of the Badges All-Star Hockey Championship. The state was split into East and West, and firefighters and police officers from the same communities played together. The game also welcomed back a Badges favorite and local hero, Manchester Police Officer Dan Doherty, who was injured in the line of duty in 2012. Team West took all-star honors, 6-5.
Champions: Team West 6, Team East 5
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team East - $67,500
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $14,000
2014
In 2014 the game took back on its original stance of Police vs. Fire and proceeds soared to $231,000. The 2014 Badges win went to Team Police, with a final score of 5-4 with Keith MacKenzie of the Rochester Police Department scoring the game-winner. Badges’ only female player, Jacqui Parker of Pembroke Police, was the winning goalie with 29 saves. Fire fighter Jeff Clattenburg of Lebanon Fire scored two goals for Team Fire.
Champions: Team Police 5, Team Fire 4
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $81,055
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $12,000
2015
The 2015 battle went to Team Fire, with a final score of 7-4. Over $238,000 was raised for the kids at CHaD! The game winning goal scored by Manchester Fire’s Mike McGaffigan put Team Fire up 5-4 in the third, and they finished the night with two empty net goals. Top Team fundraiser for the event went to Team Police, which raised $89,478, and Badges player Officer Michael Dore of the Nashua Police Department was honored as the Top Individual Fundraiser with over $15,152 raised.
Champions: Team Fire 7, Team Police 4
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $89,478
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $15,185
2016
Team Police jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first period en route to a smashing 12-5 victory in the ninth annual CHaD Battle of the Badges Hockey Championship. Kevin Kelly of Amherst started the scoring in the first period for Team Police. Dover Police’s Chris Plummer led all players with four points (two goals, two assists). Barry Kendall of Candia and Michael Snide of Claremont had two goals each for Fire. Christian Henault of Hartford had three assists for Fire.
Team Police was the Top Team Fundraiser with $70,297 collectively. Michael Dore from Nashua’s Police Department was the top individual fundraiser for the seventh time in eight years with a total of $16,630. He has raised more than $100,000 individually. The game itself generated $210,935 for CHaD, pushing the all-time total to $1,672,000.
Champions: Team Police 12, Team Fire 5
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $72,634
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police $16,630
2017
To celebrate ten years of Badges Hockey, it was only fitting that numerous records were set. The game generated nearly $275,000, the most in its ten-year history. Team Police led the fundraising efforts by collectively raising over $100,000 while Team Fire put up a combined $81,000. Police were victorious on the ice as well, posting a 9-1 triumph.
Champions: Team Police 9, Team Fire 1
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $100,746
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Mike Dore, Nashua Police - $25,725
2018
The 2018 game raised a RECORD $286,000! Team Police won the game on the ice, 9-5, and in the fundraising by generating over $99,000. Team Fire raised over $92,000, led by top fundraiser Michael Snide and his $24,000 tally for CHaD. In ten games with the police vs. fire format, the men in blue have a 7-3 series lead.
Champions: Team Police 9, Team Fire 5
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $99,000
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Michael Snide, Claremont Fire - $24,000
2019
The 2019 game was one for the ages with Team Fire's Micah Ruel scoring the winning goal with just 5.6 seocnds left in the game. While Fire won the on-ice action 6-5, Team Police raised over $116,000 for top fundraising honors. The series now sits in Police's favor at 7-4.
Champions: Team Fire 6, Team Police 5
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $116,642
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Kyle Daly, Manchester PD - $33,405
2020
The 2020 game was one of New Hampshire's last events before COVID-19 struck the Granite State. Playing to a streaming-only audience because of the pandemic, Team Fire earned its second win in a row with a 9-4 triumph over Team Police. In the fundraising battle, Police came away with the victory after raising $93,000 as a team. Police's Kyle Daly (Manchester) became just the second Badges player to raise over $100,000 when he generated nearly $27,000 for the 2020 game. The series now sits in Police's favor at 7-5.
Champions: Team Fire 9, Team Police 4
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $93,068
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Kyle Daly, Manchester PD - $26,465
2021
Cancelled due to COVID-19.
2022
After a pandemic cancellation in 2021, and after fans were unable to attend the game in 2020, the CHaD Battle of the Badges was back in all its glory on March 13, 2022. Team Police won the game, 5-2, snapping Fire’s two-game winning streak behind a go-ahead third period goal from Chichester’s Phil Arnone. Over 4,100 fans were in attendance to help the event generate over $210,000 for programs at CHaD. Police won the fundraising game as well, generating over $72,000 compared to Fire's $63,761. Kyle Daly was the top individual fundraiser for the third year in a row, besting all others with $11,234.
Champions: Team Police 5, Team Fire 2
Highest Team Fundraisers: Team Police - $72,273
Highest Individual Fundraiser: Kyle Daly, Manchester PD - $11,234
