Emergency services personnel on hockey team

BANGOR – The team began three years ago.

Firefighters Troy Lare and Scott Bolduc were relaxing with Bangor police Officer Keith Mercier and talked about getting a hockey team together.

“Police and firemen who played hockey, we thought it would be fun to play together,” said Lare, one of the founders of the team.

The fruits of their labor, the Third Watch hockey team, is playing its third season in the Brewer men’s league, B division, Sundays, at the T.J. Ryan Arena in Brewer.

The men originally had intended to have city of Bangor emergency personnel fill the roster. But because they needed more members to complete the team, founders have included other public service employees.

The team has a roster of 18, including five firefighters, three police officers, a dispatcher, a nurse, a doctor, a teacher, a federal employee and a National Guardsman. The members pay their own expenses.

Because most of the players work in emergency services, they chose Third Watch as the name of their team, after the NBC television show.

One of the purposes of the team, according to Lare, is the socializing.

“It’s relaxation, to have fun,” he said. “Sometimes it gets a little rough, but that’s hockey,” Lare added.

The team doesn’t have any regularly scheduled practices, and has all levels of talent.

The men vary in skill level from those who are fairly new to skating and ice hockey to guys who have played their whole life. Ages of the men vary from an 18-year-old to players in their late 50s.

“The average age is probably around 34, 35,” said Lare.

The team does add two players to a tournament roster, he said, “for some weekends, when people can’t go.”

Another purpose of the team is playing for charity.

Last January some Philadelphia firefighters and police officers came to Rockport to compete and raise $4,400 for the FDNY Widows and Children’s Fund.

March saw the Bangor firefighters travel to Winslow to help raise money for youth hockey. The team also skated in October at the Great Pumpkin Tournament in Brewer to raise money for a scholarship.

In February, the Third Watch team will travel to Philadelphia to compete in two games, with the proceeds to benefit a charity.

Team members are also planning a trip to Buffalo in the fall to compete against the Buffalo police.

“The purpose of the participation [in the tournaments and benefit events] is to raise money for children,” said Lare.

Members are Rick Abbott, Rob Angelo, Scott Bolduc, Bruce Hall, Jim Hassard, Matt Kirth, Tim Lare, Troy Lare, Todd McFarland, Chris Osgood, Ben Paradis, Bryan Pedrick, Tony Redmond, John Robinson, Mike Schroeder, Jeff Sennett, Nate Snyder, “Duffy” Spooner, Scott Thomas and Steve Van Dolman.

The coach is Rick Gunn, owner of Gunn’s Sport Shop in Bangor and Brewer. Games include: 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, vs. Coyotes; 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, vs. Mainiacs; 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9, vs. Red Army; 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, vs. 13 Club; 3:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, vs. Chiefs in Philadelphia; 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, vs. Chiefs in Philadelphia; 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, vs. T.J. Ryan. For information on the team or sponsorships, visit http://thirdwatchhockey.homestead.com/thirdwatch.html.