MARQUETTE – The annual Pigs-N-Heat Fire Relief Fund benefit hockey game Wednesday posted another win for the police Pigs team and the community, with more funding raised for fire victims.

The Pigs won the fundraising game at Lakeview Arena in Marquette over the firefighters’ Heat team 9-4.

A good crowd was on hand to enjoy the game.

Before the hockey teams took the ice, various officials from area departments were honored for their service, including Marquette City Fire Department Chief Tom Belt, who was presented a plaque by Marquette City Manager Bill Vajda, after a ceremonial face-off at center ice between Belt and Pigs team coach and Marquette City Police Department Chief Mike Angeli.

Third-graders from Sandy Knoll Elementary School in Marquette sang while a local color guard stood near one of the nets. The players from each team, many of whom were multi-year veterans of the game, stood along the blue lines.

Despite their loss, the Heat scored the first goal of the game.

Over the years, before Wednesday night’s victory, the Heat had won 11 games and the Pigs had won nine, according to data provided by city police officials. Two games also ended in a tie, but results for the rest of the games couldn’t be found.

Now in its 32nd year, the game has grown to include support and participation from more than 20 police and fire departments throughout the county.

According to the police department’s website, the fire relief effort first started in the early ’80s when local police and firefighters sought a way to raise money for a family with three young children whose home was lost to fire.

The first game, which was held at Northern Michigan University’s PEIF building, attracted 500 people and raised $1,700. After that initial success, the game was moved to Lakeview Arena where in 2010 the game generated total ticket sales of more than $17,500, according to the police department.

Other more recent games have raised around $10,000 to $14,000 and have attracted between 3,000 and 4,500 people. Organizers did not have a fundraising total from Wednesday’s game available before press time today.

Money raised from the ticket sales, as well as other donations, goes to the Pigs-N-Heat Fire Relief Fund, which provides three nights of lodging and a monetary donation of $500 or more, depending on family size, to individuals who have lost their homes because of fire.

John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His email address is jpepin@miningjournal.net. Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, Ext. 242. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal.net.