Charity match: multiple fights between New York firefighters and police officers

There have been, and still are, many great rivalries in the history of field hockey.

Many of them have involved the Montreal Canadiens, whether in the CH’s glory years against the Quebec Nordiques and Boston Bruins, among others, or more recently against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

There are also regional rivalries, such as the Pennsylvania rivalry between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, or the one between the three New York teams (Rangers, Islanders and Devils).

The problem with all these rivalries, however, is that for some years now, we’ve been noticing that today’s rivalries are nowhere near the same level as those of the good old days.

Opposing players in the same rivalry don’t really seem to hate each other as much as they used to, and there’s not as much tension between two teams as there used to be.

In any case, while these rivalries no longer exist as they once did in the National Hockey League, elsewhere in the field hockey world, a few still do.

Let me introduce you to this incredible, almost 50-year-old rivalry between the New York Fire Department and the New York Police Department.

Every year, a charity field hockey match takes place between these two New York departments.

And yesterday, let’s just say that the 49th edition of this match didn’t disappoint.

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Indeed, there were plenty of intense fights during the match, which really set the place alight.

Not for nothing did this charity match take place in front of a sold-out crowd at the New York Islanders’ home, UBS Arena.

In addition to the impressive brawling, there was also a field hockey match, which was won by the New York Fire Department 8-5.

It’s a truly special event in New York between these two departments who work together on a regular basis in New York.

To see them put aside their friendships in this way for a field hockey game is a truly bizarre event not to be missed.

This rivalry is one that has remained intact in terms of intensity, and that’s why it’s one of the best rivalries in field hockey according to none other than Wayne Gretzky.

In a gust

– Very funny.

One down, one to go Toronto 😅

(H/T: @BlueJays) pic.twitter.com/fkcuFGShXe

– TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 16, 2023

– AHL champions in their first season in Calgary.

Best record in the regular season ✔️

The @AHLWranglers claim the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy and the Pacific Division title in their final game before postseason play. pic.twitter.com/YyRdJrUbZH

– American Hockey League (@TheAHL) April 16, 2023

– Fernandez wins big for Canada!

GAME. SET. MATCH. 🇨🇦@leylahfernandez and @GabyDabrowski win in straight sets to send @TennisCanada to a third straight @BJKCup Finals. 🎾 pic.twitter.com/HzXfvKHWKL

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 16, 2023

– It’s going to be a bumpy ride this summer in Pittsburgh.