Local youth hockey players receive instruction from a Legends player.
WESTFIELD – It was another legendary afternoon at one of the area’s crown jewel hockey rinks.
The Westfield Fire Department Union Local 1111 renewed its charity ice hockey game against the Black & Gold Legends, featuring former Bruins players Sunday at Amelia Park Ice Arena.
The score, which was secondary in this event, favored the Legends in the end, 9-6.
Local youth Sara McMahon flashes a smile during the Legends’ skills clinic.
“Overall, I think everything went well,” said Ray Neilsen, local firefighter/event coordinator. “Those (people) there (in attendance) had a good time … Everybody had a blast.”
Sunday’s game featured former Bruins, such as Reggie Lemelin, Bob Beers, Andy Brickley, Steve Rooney, Guy Larose, Quintin Brickley, and goalie Mike Boccuzzi.
Neilsen said despite the age of some of the retired Bruins players, or “Legends,” as they are known now, they still showed flashes of NHL brilliance.
The game featured two 25-minute periods, and a brief intermission period in which Legends signed autographs and posed for pictures with members of the public. Sports memorabilia was auctioned off, and several local youths participated in a skills’ clinic with Legends players prior to the game.
Money raised from the event funds the Local 1111, comprised of firefighters and EMTS, which in turn is used to help sponsor local youth baseball and hockey teams, and such.
“It’s all about giving back to the community,” Neilsen said, “and those guys love giving back to Westfield.”
A few members of the Black and Gold Legends pose for a team photo alongside several area youth hockey players following a skills clinic Sunday.
Team “Westfield Fire” poses with the Black and Gold Legends.
