Mooriors to face off vs. Spokane PD in K27 memorial benefit
Graphic courtesy of Roy Bidwell This helmet is the logo that will be on the Mooriors jerseys during a hockey game on Friday night at Frontier Ice Arena to benefit the K27 Forever Memorial. The logo is on the T-shirts for sale for fans.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
COEUR d'ALENE — You won't likely see fist fights at this cross-border hockey matchup, but if there are, there will be plenty of security present.
However, there will be plenty of action for a great cause on Friday when the Mooriors, a team featuring local police and firefighters, face off against a Spokane Police squad in the inaugural Battle of the Badges at Frontier Ice Arena on Seltice Way at 6:30 p.m. to benefit K27 Forever Memorial.
"There's always a rivalry in hockey, so it will be competitive," said Jocelyn Babcock, executive director of the Panhandle Parks Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for parks improvements and an organizer of the event. "It's a non-checking game, but it is still a contact sport.
"It's the safest place to be in Coeur d'Alene on Friday the 13th — except on the ice."
Tickets are $7 online at www.eventbrite.com (click on Battle of the Badges K27 Hockey game) or $10 at the door. Children 10 and younger are free.
The memorial at McEuen Park is being built to honor the sacrifice of Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore, who died in the line of duty on May 5, 2015. The memorial designed by architect Jon Mueller will be unveiled on May 15 at 4:30 p.m. during a Peace Officers Memorial Day ceremony.
Babcock said the goal is to raise anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000 from the hockey game. There will also be raffles, a silent auction, 50/50 contest, youth hockey scrimmage at intermission, demo by the Coeur d'Alene Hockey Academy and an appearance by McGruff the crime dog, with thin blue line stickers for the children.
The Mooriors have team members representing the Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Bonner County law enforcement agencies along with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.
For those who can't attend the hockey game but want to contribute to the memorial, donations can be made at www.panhandleparks foundation.org.
Babcock said the city and parks foundation are closing in on the $350,000 fundraising goal with about $20,000 remaining.
"There has not been a benefit like this (with emergency responders on the ice) in Coeur d'Alene for three years," Babcock said.