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. They boasted Hockey Hall of Fame members Bob Gainey, Larry Robinson, and other Habs stars such as Yvon Lambert and Robert “Bunny” Larocque.

The main headliners now are USports members Saint-Mary’s Huskies and Dalhousie Tigers. The Forum played host to teams from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Esprit De Corps Magazine (EDC) who faced off in a charity hockey game called the Clash of the Titans II 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 and former MP, Peter Stoffer. Stoffer has a long and respected history of supporting the military and it’s veterans.

The national anthem was expertly 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 650 people.

The Charity Challenge Game has for both years, coincided with the annual Canadian Defence Security and Aerospace (DEFSEC) Atlantic trade show held in Halifax, NS. For this reason, many of the players and sponsors were already gathered in Nova Scotia.

There was no doubt as to whom the home ice advantage belonged. The Stadacona Band played played the Royal Canadian Navy march as MARLANT took to the ice looking to avenge their loss in the previous Clash of the Titans. They also played sad dirges after each Commando goal and filled the arena with upliting music at each MARLANT goal.

The Commandos entered the game as the favorites, boasting a team that play together regularly and held the Challenge trophy. 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.

Despite this seeming disadvantage, the Mariners wasted no time in setting the pace of the game. The first period ended in a tie on a last second goal by the Commandos. As any hockey game would, the compete level for both sides rose as the game wore on. Yet, each time the Commandos were able to step up their play, the Mariners found another gear to keep the play in the Commando end. The second period ended with a Mariner lead of four to two.

In the third period, the Mariners controlled the pace of the game from start to finish. They displayed determination and a killer instinct to ensure they not lose in their home rink again and avenge their loss from the year before. Esprit de Corps made a valiant attempt, yet they simply didn’t have the youthful exhuberance that the Mariners displayed all night long.

The Commandos were able to take advantage of the few chances that arose, but that proved to be shy of the mark as the final score was a 6 to 3 victory for the RCN Mariners who gleefully celebrated avenging their previous loss.

This year’s event was planned by Scott Taylor of EDC Magazine, Captain (N) Paul Forget the Commanding Officer of CFB Halifax, and the dedicated staff of the Halifax MFRC. Their combined efforts made the evening a rousing success. At the night’s end, a total of $5000 was raised for the MFRC.

The MFRC is an independent charitable organization that has worked in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces for over 30 years and is the only charity solely dedicated to providing programs and services by military families for military families.

Each MFRC looks to provide the services their area requires most. They are independant and this provides a flexibility required to provide the services needed most for families in the area which makes the MFRC an essential support.

The MFRC offer services such as deployment supports for families of military members deployed. These services are offered to all local military families and include 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 and ease the burden of the daily lives of the military community.

Once in the area, the MFRC provides a social blanket for the families. Newly arrived members and their families who have not taken possession of their homes in time for their move are given assistance with a place to stay while they wait for their belongings and their homes to be ready. Charitable funds like what was raised with this game help to provide these families with emergency food and daily provisions.

One vitally important service that is not advertised is the support given to the 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 that services all of the maritime provinces. The extended military family does everything they can to pitch in and help lessen the burden on those that are forced to shoulder more than any parent should.

The MFRC and their staff are able to provide these families with food, toiletries and supplies for their stay in the region. They are also able to coordinate with the Command team of CFB Halifax to provide them with accommodations at little to no cost to the family. These simple gestures allow military families facing hardships to focus on what matters most, their family.

Hockey is more than just a game, it is woven in the fabric of our national psyche. It can be used to bring a large group together in a fun and meaningful way. The funds raised by the Clash of the Titans charity game will go a long way in helping the military community.