by Garrett Fodor
From NHL Legends, who have been watched for decades, to real-life heroes, two teams took to the ice while raising funds and awareness for the Special Olympics at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.
On Sunday afternoon, the Essex County OPP hosted its fourth annual NHL Alumni and Law Enforcement All-Stars hockey game. The annual fundraiser not only brought camaraderie between local law enforcement heroes and NHL alumni, but also showcased on-ice skill and talent, and further brought awareness to the Special Olympics program.
The game serves as one of many fundraisers that the Essex County OPP hosts throughout the year to raise money to support Special Olympics and the work it does for athletes.
The game brought out the likes of Windsor natives Zack Kassian and Eddie Mio, along with other greats like Mike Krushelnyski, Brandon Prust, and Dave McLlwain. Across the ice, they were met with various members made up from across the local OPP detachments.
“Events like this help to raise funds for our athletes to help with the local, provincial, federal, and the world games for the Special Olympics,” OPP Constable Jim Chauvin said, who has been involved with the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Special Olympics dating back to the year 2000.
“That is also what our Law Enforcement Torch Run does as well. It provides us as law enforcement officers an opportunity to meet the athletes and kind of put a face to the name for the athletes. As law enforcement personnel, we can talk with the athletes and let them know we are human beings with a uniform.”
For Chauvin, the event captivates and shows the versatility in the ways that they are able to help raise money for the Special Olympics. Aside from the game and the “Law Enforcement Torch Run,” he noted they also previously hosted the torch ride for motorcycles and the polar plunge, in addition to t-shirt and stuffed dog sales.
“We put this on for the entertainment, that it is good family fun, but also to remind the public we are here and the work we do with the Special Olympics,” Constable Chauvin said.
“Last year, we raised close to $10,000 for the Special Olympics and it would be great to do that again. We are grateful for the support and generosity from the community to put on these games and to help the Special Olympics. We are thankful for the continued support.”
Looking ahead, Constable Chauvin is preparing to represent the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Turin, Italy as a part of the Special Olympics World Games.
He noted he will fly over at the end of February, heading to the Vatican City, where the Pope will bless the torch before the team of torch runners carry it through towns around Turin to bring awareness to the Special Olympics.