The puck is set to drop to start the third period in the annual Pigs N’ Heat hockey game Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The game pits area law enforcement against firefighters. Money raised by the event is used to assist local fire victims. (Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Two teams comprised of members of the Copper Country’s law enforcement agencies and fire departments battled each other in a friendly hockey game in the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena Saturday.

The event raises money for the Pigs N’ Heat Fund used to assist victims of fire and crime emergencies. Funds were raised from ticket sales and a multitude of prize drawings. Among those helped by the fund were Michigan Tech students displaced by the fire in the Daniell Heights apartments on Jan. 10.

Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund Board Secretary Christina Verran said the game raises from $15,000 to $16,000 for relief which provides victims with funds and items such as clothing and toiletries. While raising money is the most important aspect of the event, Verran said everyone is always looking forward to the game itself.

“It’s absolutely good fun, and lot of the players like to go head to head,” she said. “It’s awesome to see all the people and all the sponsors that come in and give back out to their community and make sure we take care of each other.”

The game consisted of three periods played by four teams with the Michigan Tech Pep Band providing music in the background.

The first period was played by less experienced hockey players of a law enforcement team called the Law Hogs and a fire department team called Leftover Heat.

These two teams only played the first period, though gave a lively performance with an abundance of smiles across their faces. The Law Hogs dominated the game with a 3-0 victory. Recruit Braden Peterson of Hancock City Police, Aaron Hainault of Laurium Village Police and Recruit Cole Lystila of Houghton City Police tallying the goals.

The next two periods were played by the more experienced hockey players made of the Copper Country’s law enforcement team, Pigs, and the Copper Country’s fire departments’ team, Heat.

Those periods were a complete reversal of the first, with the Heat putting on an 8-0 roasting.

The goal scorers for the Heat included Jake Marcotte of Lake Linden Fire Department, Brett Lepisto of Hancock Fire Department, Steve Eskola of Laurium Fire Department, Bill Luokkanen of Allouez Township Fire Department, Dylan Parske of Laurium Fire Department, Ryan Kaura of the Quincy-Franklin-Hancock Fire Department and an empty net goal of which the announcer credited to “a fireman assisted by another fireman.”

Aside from the hockey game, there was a multitude of raffles and prizes. Each admission ticket was placed into a raffle for three cash prizes amounting at $1,000, $750 and $300.

There was also a 50/50 raffle along with raffle prizes including firearms, a crossbow, a Michigan Tech hockey jersey signed by the Michigan Tech hockey team, a puck signed by the Detroit Red Wings’ Jeff Petry and tickets to a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball game.

Though the game is completed, the Copper Country Police and Fire Relief Fund Board will get back to work for next year’s game.

Verran said that this game is always being worked out a year in advance.

During that time the Pigs will be contemplating ways to cool off the Heat for next year’s matchup and take back the trophy.