SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) – First responders laced up their hockey skates Saturday to honor fallen Deputy Matthew Yates at the ice for his willpower within the Clark County neighborhood.
“We come out here to play hockey, we usually pay our own way, and every time we hit the ice, it’s for a specific reason,” Dayton Fire Hockey Team Captain Patrick Holland mentioned.
The explicit explanation why this time was once to honor and bear in mind Clark County Deputy Yates, who was once killed within the line of accountability on July 24.
“He was a beloved member of the community, an awesome guy to know, an awesome police officer, and so we really just want to repay that respect,” Dayton Fire Hockey Team Member Zach Sprinkle mentioned.
The Dayton Fire Hockey Team is made up of firefighters, cops, paramedics and army individuals from around the Miami Valley.
The workforce labored with the First Responder Face-Off Foundation to place in combination the Deputy Matthew Yates Memorial Classic on the NTPRD Chiller in Springfield Saturday.
The workforce traded of their same old crimson jerseys for a black jersey that includes the blue line flag, a Clark County Sheriff’s Office badge over the center and Deputy Yates’ badge quantity at the collar.
The workforce invited Yates’ circle of relatives for a distinct presentation at the ice ahead of the sport.
“We know any day of the week it could be our number to be called, and we’re just happy that we’re able to give back to his family and give back to the community,” Holland mentioned.
The Dayton Fire workforce hosted the FOP 109 Warthogs from Wood County, which is made up of first responders in northwest Ohio.
“If we can offer some sort of relief to the family and let them know that the community, not only down here, but all over the state of Ohio is with them and let them know that we support them in any way we can,” Warthogs Captain and Lake Township Fire Department Officer Don Egan mentioned.
All the proceeds from the donations, raffles and commemorative pucks on the recreation will move towards a scholarship fund in Deputy Yates’ identify at Clark State University. The scholarship is meant for highschool seniors who plan to pursue a profession in regulation enforcement.
“You’ll see on the scholarship it says selfless, compassion, love and good humor are some things to note, and that’s exactly the type of person he was,” Sprinkle mentioned.
Now that the sport is over, the First Responder Face-Off Foundation is continuous to just accept donations and is raffling off one the particular jerseys for the Deputy Matthew Yates Scholarship Fund. For additional info, click on right here.