Submitted Photo Devin Walter, Matt McLeod, Mike Crisp, Chris Stokke and Lou Leonard take part in a past Guns ‘N’ Hoses Charity Hockey Game. The charity hockey game has become an annual tradition with the benefits from the event going to help someone in the community.

Firefighters and police officers take to the ice on Saturday, April 9, with puck drop at 3:45 p.m., in the Maysa Arena in Minot for the Guns ‘N’ Hoses benefit hockey game. This year’s game will raise money for the Lawson family to assist with medical expenses for Grant Lawson, 9, who has Infantile Batten Disease, a fatal genetic disease.

Grant is the son of Scott and Melissa Lawson.

The fundraising event will include a silent auction and a tailgate party.

The event, now in its fourth year (it was not held one year due to Covid-19), was the idea of Minot firefighter Mike Crisp to get together firefighters and police officers play a hockey game for a good cause – to help someone in the local community. Crisp and Matt McLeod of the Minot Police Department have been running the event ever since.

Crisp said those taking part in the hockey game itself are firefighters and police officers. “If we don’t have enough to complete the team, then we’ll reach out to family members and then other members in the city,” he said.

A silent auction is part of the event.

We usually get sponsorships from businesses and then we go out and purchase items,” Crisp said.

He said donations are welcome and can be made on game day starting as early as 9 a.m. at the Silent Auction Room being set up in the Pepsi Rink in the Maysa Arena.

The silent auction will end at the 10-minute mark of the game’s third period.

Crisp said they are working in conjunction with the Minotauros’ this year. The Minotauros Booster Club is sponsoring the tailgate party. “All 100% gets donated back to the family,” he said.

Grant and his family are expected to attend the game.

“Harris (Olafson), our recipient last year, will be dropping the puck,” Crisp said.

The benefit hockey game has helped four individuals including this year’s recipient.

“That’s what the whole thing’s all about is helping someone,” Crisp said.

Tickets for the event are $5 and can be purchased at the door.