Battle of the Badges

Press Release:

CAN-USA Sports is excited to announce the return of the Battle of the Badges, City of Batavia Police vs City of Batavia Fire. Sunday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at just $10 and proceeds benefit the David McCarthy Memorial Foundation.

The City of Batavia Police Department took the inaugural battle of the Badges Cup last year with the event raising over $3,000 for the David McCarthy Memorial Foundation. 

“We are looking forward to getting these two great departments together for the 2nd straight year. The David McCarthy Memorial Foundation has helped so many families in our community over the years and we are excited to donate the proceeds to such a meaningful organization again this year.” official quotes from Detective James DeFreze (Detective-City of Batavia Police) & Matt Morasco (City of Batavia Fire Department). 

Kids 12 & under are free to enter and tickets are just $10 with proceeds benefiting the foundation. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mccarthyicearena.com or in person at the Ice Arena.

POLICE ROSTER: 

• #11 - Jim DeFreze
• #13 - Steve Quider
• #15 - Connor Borchert
• #18 - Steven Cronmiller
• #20 - Chris Lindsay
• #36 - Adam Tucker
• #54 - John Gombos
• #57 - Matthew Smith
• #58 - Chance Hudson
• #62 - Eric Hill
• #69 - Aric Perkins
• #72 - Matt Lutey
• #74 - Brian Moscicki
• #76 - Felicia DeGroot
• #83 - Ricky Messmer
• #98 - Andrew Mruczek

FIRE ROSTER: 

• #7 - Josh McCarthy-CBFD
• #10 - Ryan Whitcombe-CBFD
• #12 - Chris Morasco-CBFD
• #15 - Matt Morasco-CBFD
• #19 - Zechariah Gowanlock- CBFD
• #31 - Steve Hammerl-Rochester FD
• #32 - Colin Cooper-CBFD
• #36 - Mark Sacheli-CBFD
• #37 - Bob Tedford-CBFD
• #39 - Mike Morris-CBFD
• #44 - Jeff Whitcombe-CBFD
• #51 - Brian Fix-CBFD
• #56 - Russ Borden-Town of Batavia FD
• #57 - Chad Brade -CBFD
• #59  - Allison Hubert-CBFD
• #67 - Karl Zufall-CBFD
• #96 - Andy LaForce-Buffalo Airport FD

If you or someone you know owns a local business that would like to help sponsor the event, please contact Marc Witt, General Manager/Ownership – CAN-USA Sports, mwitt.canusa@gmail.com for opportunities.

Press Release:

CAN-USA Sports is excited to announce the return of the Battle of the Badges, City of Batavia Police vs City of Batavia Fire, charity hockey game & the Inaugural Batavia City Schools Foundation Faculty charity hockey game at the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena in 2024.

The Batavia City Schools Foundation Faculty game will be on Sunday Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. with doors opening at 4 p.m. The event will feature current and former faculty members battling on the ice to benefit the Batavia City Schools Foundation. 

Kids 12 & under are free to enter and tickets are just $10 with proceeds benefiting the foundation. Foundation President Zack Korzelius “We want to bring more awareness to the foundation and there is such a rich tradition of hockey at our district we thought this would be a perfect fit”.

The event is open to the public and rosters will be release shortly. Tickets can be purchased online through this link-HERE or in person at the Ice Arena.

The 2nd annual Battle of the Badges will be played on Sunday Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. The City of Batavia Police Department took the inaugural battle of the badges cup last year with the event raising over $3,000 for the David McCarthy Memorial Foundation.

“We are looking forward to getting these two great departments together for the 2 nd straight year. The David McCarthy Memorial Foundation has helped so many families in our community over the years and we are excited to donate the proceeds to such a meaningful organization again this year.” official quotes from Detective James DeFreze (Detective-City of Batavia Police) & Matt Morasco (City of Batavia Fire Department). 

Kids 12 & under are free to enter and tickets are just $10 with proceeds benefiting the foundation. Tickets can be purchased online through this link - HERE or in person at the Ice Arena.

Both events will have full-service food & beverage at the rink & 50-50 at each evening’s game. “We have hosted several events in partnership with CAN-USA Sports ownership and they have been all successful. We love to highlight the rink, our community, and who doesn’t love hockey!” – Kati Murray, General Manager, David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena. 

“Hockey being my first love and being able to highlight the heroes & teachers in our community playing the game I love while giving back to local charities is just a win win for the community here.” – CAN-USA Sports Owner Robbie Nichols.

If you or someone you know owns a local business who would like to help sponsor either or both of the events please contact Marc Witt, General Manager/Ownership – CAN-USA Sports, mwitt.canusa@gmail.com for opportunities.

From BPD:

The Batavia Muckdogs are proud to host the inaugural "Battle of the Badges" game between our local Police and Fire departments in Batavia.

The game will take place this Sunday, July 18th, on Give716 Day at the ballpark -- Western New York's community-wide day of giving.

Batavia will host the Elmira Pioneers for a 4:05 p.m. start, with the "Battle of the Badges" game following the completion of the Muckdogs vs. Pioneers game.

Tickets will be required for the police vs. fire matchup, and admission will be counted toward both games that occur on Sunday. Tickets range from $9-11, and a dollar is added if purchased the day of. For tickets, call (585) 524-2260.

Press release from the American Red Cross:

The first ever Battle of the Badges Blood Drive in Genesee County, which took place Thursday, Aug. 11, between Mercy EMS, Batavia City Fire Deptartment, Town of Batavia Fire Department, State Troopers, Batavia City Police and the Sheriff’s Office initially ended in a TIE!

But after the tie, the American Red Cross turned to the votes of the wonderful volunteers, who donate their time and efforts at the blood drives throughout Genesee County, led by Jennie Starowitz (Bergen) and Sharon Frost (Le Roy).

All the departments received many votes. Votes came from all the donors who donated at the Annual Genesee County Community That Cares that is held every year at the Quality Inn & Palm Island Indoor Waterpark. There were many civilian donors and there were many first responders who donated as well from all departments from as far out as Jamestown. Donors also came from Genesee, Orleans, Monroe, Niagara and Erie counties.

The premiere 2016 Genesee County Battle of the Badges winner is the STATE POLICE. The Troopers, led by Major Nigrelli, edged out the Sheriff’s Office by two votes and Mercy EMS came in third place, just two votes behind the Sheriff’s Office. The City fire, Town fire and City Police all were represented and all ended up in a three-way tie.

But for now, the State Troopers have the bragging rights for the next year. 

Tompkins Financial sponsored this great event and the Quality Inn & Palm Island Indoor Waterpark hosted this blood drive that will end up helping hundreds in need of life-saving blood donations. Thank you to all first responders for all that they do every day on the front lines and to all of the wonderful citizens who came to donate, the volunteers, sponsors and host.