by Blain Potvin, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

HALIFAX, NS. — The Halifax Forum was home to the Nova Scotia Voyageurs (former AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) during the 1970’s boasting Hockey Hall of Fame members Bob Gainey, Larry Robinson and other Habs stars such as Yvon Lambert and Robert “Bunny” Larocque.  Last week, the Forum featured teams from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Esprit De Corps Magazine (EDC) who faced off in a charity hockey game to raise funds for the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in Halifax, NS.

The ceremonial puck drop was performed by the Mayor of Halifax Mike Savage. The national anthem was played by the RCN Stadacona Band who also entertained the crowd during intermission and between whistles. The game itself was a very well attended affair with attendance in the 5000 seat arena approaching 900 people.

It was impressive to see such a strong RCN representation, as well as members of each of the many sponsors for the event. Interspersed in the crowd, there were also several members of the French Navy, the Royal Navy and a small, yet vocal contingent of EDC fans. This support is what makes the military community and our allies a family.

The game was energetic and fun for those playing as well as those in attendance. The RCN Mariners team comprised elements of several players from the Atlantic Fleet as well as the CFB Halifax Men’s over-35 team and key players of the CFB Halifax 2016 Hockey National Championship Women’s team. The EDC Commandos side had a well-coached team that has played together as a unit for several seasons.

As any hockey game would, the compete level for both sides rose as the game wore on. Both sides took turns pushing the pace of the play. The game also boasted some physicality that generated some individual rivalries and added to the entertainment value.

Several French Navy sailors stated that this was their first exposure to the sport of hockey and they were instantly smitten. The attraction was so immediately felt that they will be forming a team immediately upon their return to France, in an effort to pursue their new-found sport.

The EDC Commandos employed a relentless forecheck that left little time and space to a faster, yet somewhat disorganized, RCN squad. This forecheck by the Commandos was able to generate and capitalize on the errors committed by the Mariners. Despite a valiant effort by the home town RCN Mariners, the game finished with the EDC Commandos scoring an empty net goal to seal a 7-to-3 victory.

Despite the heated play, any animosity melted away at the final buzzer and the jovial atmosphere of camaraderie returned as the post-game celebration was shared by both sides.

This event was planned in a very short amount of time, yet the tireless efforts of Scott Taylor of EDC magazine, Captain (N) Chris Sutherland the Commanding Officer of CFB Halifax and the Director of the Halifax MFRC Colleen Calvert with the combined help of their staff, made the evening a rousing success. At the night’s end, a total of $2,786.00 was raised for the MFRC.

To make an event like this one happen in a matter of days takes more than just team work, it takes the camaraderie borne of a special bond that is shared by those in the profession of arms. That is what military life is all about.

The MFRC is an independent charitable organization that works in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces and is the only charity solely dedicated to providing programs and services to military families. September 9th marked 30 remarkable years of helping military families, by Military families for military families.

The MFRC offer services such as child care for working families, emergency child care for families in need of assistance, welcome wagons for newly arrived military members and their families, as well as employment services for spouses who have had to leave their jobs behind. There are many other services provided that contribute to the daily lives of the military community.

As MFRC Director Colleen Calvert said, “the military can tell us where we work, when we work, what we wear to work, where we live, but they can’t tell us what services we want or need as a community.” The flexibility to provide the services needed most for families in the area is what makes the MFRC an essential support to national defence.

One service that is not advertised is the support given to the families caring for a sick or injured child. When the children of our brave men and women in uniform fall ill, they arrive in Halifax for treatment at the IWK Health Centre a regional children’s hospital servicing all of the maritime provinces. The military family does everything they can to pitch in and help lessen the burden on those that are shouldering an extra burden.

Once in the area, the MFRC provides, as described by Director Colleen Calvert, “the social blanket for these families.” The cost of uprooting  families in such a stressful time can be very high, yet the MFRC with the support of CFB Halifax, provides families with a place to live while in the area. Calvert said that funds raised at charity events allow the MFRC “to provide emergency funds, emergency food and daily provisions such as bed linens and toiletries.”

This same service is offered to families from outside the Halifax area who have a relative serving in the Armed Forces in Halifax that is hospitalized, allowing them to be with their loved one in a time of need. This service would not be possible without fundraisers such as this charity hockey game.

Without these essential services and the tireless efforts of highly dedicated people such as Colleen Calvert, the staff at the MFRC and the military community at large, all those proudly in uniform would not be able to rise to the level of dedication needed to serve the Canadian government and the Canadian people.

Hockey is a unifying force for most Canadians, and it also provides a feeling of inclusiveness and community. On this occasion, it was the spark that helped to further unite this proud, professional group of serving and retired military members to unite and provide much needed funds. It is their loved ones who have sacrificed so much allowing the military to perform their duties while somewhat mitigating the concern for those left behind.

As the MFRC motto states, “Military families are the strength behind the uniform.” The MFRC provides these families the essential support needed to sustain that strength for our dedicated Canadian Armed Forces members to successfully continue with their difficult and demanding tasks.