The annual NYPD vs FDNY charity hockey game was supposed to be friendly, but one explosive moment between the teams sent the helmets flying

The police and the fire department usually work together in cases that call for both. Since saving the day is a great cause, both departments are also united for another remarkable purpose: an NHL-style annual hockey match that raises funds for those in need. We have heard about problems with hockey donations, but this peaceful match took a wild turn, leaving the audience shaken.

The charity hockey match, an annual tradition between the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), recently marked its 52nd game. As per the Daily Mail, the ice quickly became a battlefield during the second period when the score was tied 2-2. Fans were expecting regular gameplay, but everything changed when one of the police officers made a retaliatory hit on a firefighter.

In a clip going viral on social media, the whole chaos can be seen. It wasn’t just a regular brawl involving two or three players but a full-scale battle that lasted for several minutes. As soon as the firefighter got hit, the single matchup quickly escalated into a battle, with teammates from both sides throwing punches, wrestling, and piling on the opposing players in front of the audience. The ice turned into a boxing ring, and the referees made every effort to stop it.​

Both teams were quick to throw hands, but NYPD took the victory later

The reports suggest the NYPD hockey team started the chain reaction that eventually led into full-fledged fight. It looks like the officer wasn’t expecting the consequences after landing a retaliatory hit on the FDNY player. The response was fire from the firefighters, which lasted for quite a while and delayed the game for over 25 minutes.

​Eventually, the referees stopped the fight and issued penalties to the players, including multiple ejections and misconduct calls. Since this wasn’t an NHL match and was between amateur players, the exact penalties weren’t disclosed. But what looked like a tie turned into a 3-2 victory for the NYPD when the game resumed after the chaos.

Judging by the fight, you’d probably be wondering if both teams were non-serious for this match, but an NYPD captain says otherwise. The newly appointed George Antzoulis, as reported by Outkick, spoke about the team’s seriousness, saying, “Guys are missing work, missing overtime, missing things with their family, switching their tours around.”

He also added, “Guys are staying at work for three days straight, going from hockey back to work, sleeping in the office, sleeping in chairs, sleeping in their cars in the parking lot.” These comments suggest that the team has taken this charity game seriously and later scored a 3-2 victory. However, FDYN’s seriousness can also be deduced from their 2-2 tie, which means they gave the police department a noteworthy challenge.

This brawl might have given the audience quite a show, but the game still ended up fulfilling its purpose: to raise funds for the widows and children.