Royals Tap Artistic Energy of RSD Fourth Graders to Ignite Excitement for Battle of Badges

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals of the ECHL, the Reading School District, the Reading Fire Department, and the Reading Police Department today jointly announced the details for “Battle of the Badges XI” presented by FirstStates Financial Services.

For the first time in the eleven year history of the event, the Royals and RSD are teaming up to invite fourth graders to earn tickets for their entire school to the double-header hockey action at Santander Arena on Sunday, March 6, 2016, beginning at 12:30 pm with the battle for FirstStates Cup in a showdown between the Reading Fire and Police Departments. The ECHL hockey action takes over after that as the Royals join battle against the Norfolk Admirals with the opening face-off scheduled for 4:00 pm.

The coloring contest is open to every fourth grader in the RSD, and every student who participates will receive two ticket vouchers good for any Royals’ home game in the 2015-16 regular season. The theme of the coloring contest is the positive influences of law enforcement officers and first responders in our community. There will be one entry selected from each of the thirteen RSD elementary schools, and those thirteen students will receive two tickets to the Battle of the Badges double-header. All thirteen ‘winning drawings’ will be prominently displayed at Santander Arena on game day. A committee will also select one penultimate winning entry, and every student from the ‘winning school’ will receive two tickets to the BOB double header.

“We’re thrilled to be teaming up with the Reading School District along with the Police and Fire Departments in this year’s Battle of the Badges event,” said Royals’ Team President Drew Bell. “This event encompasses virtually everything that is important to our organization, including the active support of our community’s first responders, the involvement of our most precious resource—our kids—and, of course, competitive and exciting hockey. We want to thank Dr. Mumim and everyone at the Reading School District for being so receptive to this program, and also thank our local fire and police department for all that they do for us every day.”

“The Reading School District is pleased to partner with the Royals, the Reading Police Department and the Reading Fire Department in this exciting event,” said Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Superintendent of the Reading School District. “I’m confident that our fourth graders are going to create some great artwork for the competition and earn an opportunity to see the Battle of the Badges game, as well as the Royals. I’m just as confident that, when our kids do get to Santander Arena, they’ll bring their energy and enthusiasm to cheer all of the players—and particularly the Royals in the team’s game that day.”

Tickets to the Battle of the Badges double-header are currently available. One ticket gains entry into both games, and a portion of every ticket sold through the Royals’ website, www.royalshockey.com, will go to the Battle of the Badges Scholarship Fund established to benefit the children of firefighters and police officers.

It is also important to note that at this season’s Battle of the Badges day, the first 2500 fans in attendance at the Royals’ game against the Norfolk Admirals will receive a Royals’ team Player Trading Card Set courtesy of Rieck’s Printing, and there will be a post-game full team autograph session for fans to meet their favorite players. Hot dogs will be just $1.00 at the game.

History of the Battle of the Badges

The BOB Game was begun in 2006 as a benefit game and is played in remembrance of fallen Reading Police Officer Michael H. Wise II, who died in the line of duty in June of 2004, and Reading Police Officer Scott A. Wertz who was fatally wounded in the line of duty in August of 2006.  The game also raises funds for the police and fire departments scholarship funds.

Series

Reading Fire Department leads the series 6-3-1.  Last year, the Reading Fire Department won by a score of 4-3, although the Police Department had an apparent game-tying goal waived off for a ‘crease violation’ with just 25 seconds left in regulation.

Dates and Scores

February 19, 2006                   Fire                  3          Police              3 (tie)

February 18, 2007                   Fire                  4          Police              2

February 17, 2008                   Fire                  3          Police              2

February 15, 2009                   Fire                  4          Police              2

February 28, 2010                   Police             6          Fire                  0

February 17, 2011                   Fire                  3          Police              2 (shootout win)

February 26, 2012                   Fire                  3          Police              2

February 10, 2013                   Police              6          Fire                  2

March 16, 2014                       Police              8          Fire                  6

March 8, 2015                         Fire                  4          Police              3

The Royals return to action on Friday (February 12 @ 7:30 pm) when the team travels to The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia to face the Norfolk Admirals. The game night broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm in Reading will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 7:00 pm. As with all Royals’ road games this season, Friday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website; and streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.

For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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