Last year over 300 fans packed the ice arena for the first ever Guns and Hoses event, which pitted local police against local firefighters in an icy battle for hockey bragging rights.

This year’s game is Saturday, March 17. The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. but there is a public skate starting at 4 p.m., with funds going to help Mike Hathaway, the Zamboni driver, who was recently injured.

The police are heavily favored for this St. Patrick’s Day throwdown, but you never know what can happen. Last year the police were wining 7-0 as time ticked away in regulation play. But then the scoreboard magically shifted gears of its own accord to a 6-6 tie. In overtime John Dore of the Edgartown Fire Department scored the winning goal on Guns goalie Mike Trance.

One can hopefully expect an equally dramatic and odd outcome this year. After all the real winner is Vineyard House, which provides safe and sober housing for Islanders in early recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Vineyard House was chosen as this year’s fundraising recipient for the event, which in addition to skating bravado will feature raffles, food, and T-shirts for sale.