Police, firefighters' charity ice hockey game will benefit Officer Ainsworth fund

Police and firefighters will turn a friendly ice hockey game into a fundraiser to help the family of Officer Charles Ainsworth, who is recovering after being shot in the neck in January.

Posted 9:41 p.m. Mar 18, 2019 — Updated 3:51 p.m. Mar 20, 2019

Debra Morgan, WRAL anchor/reporter,

and

Emmy Victor, WRAL reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — From restaurant events to T-shirt sales, the Raleigh Police Department is actively raising money to help an injured officer. Charles Ainsworth continues to recover after being shot in the neck in January.

On Wednesday night, police and firefighters will turn a friendly ice hockey game — an opportunity for those who serve and protect to talk a little trash — into a fundraiser.

Raleigh police officers and firefighters have faced off three times since 2007 for the "Battle of Badges" charity hockey game. This time the beneficiary will be the Charles Ainsworth Recovery Fund.

“You know, to open up the PNC Arena and to get as many people in here to benefit him and his family, they really, really appreciate it, for sure,” said Raleigh Police Sgt. David Eckert.

They will play at PNC Arena at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and doors open at 6 p.m. They'll take donations at the door and have a raffle for autographed hockey items, Carolina Hurricanes tickets, hotel stays, spa items, gift cards and other experiences, such as a tour of WRAL with Debra Morgan.

"Once you get past the crowd and everything like that, it's just another adult league hockey game, " said Raleigh Fire Department Capt. Mark O'Connor.

Erik Cole, Stanley Cup champion with the Carolina Hurricanes and now team ambassador, will be the coach of the RFD team, known as the Leatherheads. (The police team is called, appropriately enough, the BlueLiners.)

"My brother-in-law, Randy Smith, is a Raleigh firefighter, so I'm happy to participate and show support for Officer Ainsworth and his family," he said.

Cole has a little experience in that role. He coaches his son Landon's team.

"Yeah, hopefully these guys will pick up on my sarcasm more than the 14-year-olds will," Cole said.

Usually for the Battle of the Badges, the proceeds are split evenly between charities chosen by the firefighters and police officers. This time, the firefighters agreed to donate 100 percent of the money to the Ainsworth family.

Ainsworth is still recovering after being shot in the neck while answering a call in January.

"That's what it's all about. It's to generate as much as we can for Officer Ainsworth and his family," Eckert said.

Before the puck drop, former Raleigh police officer Brian Sjostedt, who died in a plane crash March 1, will be remembered.

Donations can be made to The Charles Ainsworth Recovery Fund at any State Employees’ Credit Union location, or mailed to:

Local Government Federal Credit Union

3600 Wake Forest Road

Raleigh, NC 27609

Attention: The Charles Ainsworth Recovery Fund

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