Personality tests have long trumpeted the value of Police and Fire department hires benefitting from a background with high level competitive team sports.

Beyond the obvious lure of the physical fitness maintained by the athletes comes the comfort of working in a group setting and, to a certain extent, the attraction of an intense environment in which so many sport competitors thrive.

That competitive edge is sure to be on full display come February 1st at the Sudbury Arena when the men who don the uniforms take to the ice in support of the Neo Kids Foundation, anxious to prove the dominance of their fraternity.

“We don’t want to lose and they don’t want to lose – especially in a public setting,” noted Michael Rouleau, organizer of the Police hockey team that includes many a known name in local junior hockey circles. “Fans should expect a very entertaining game, while more importantly donating to a great cause.”

A long-time product of the Sudbury Minor Hockey Association, Rouleau would be drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in 2011 and go on to suit up in the NOJHL with the Sudbury Jr Wolves, the Cubs and the Nickel Barons.

By contrast, Jim Caruso is a relative newcomer to the area. Now in his fifth year in Sudbury, the 25 year-old who has been entrusted with assembling the Fire department squad hails from London where he played primarily A/AA hockey. That sport resume alone would give Caruso a point of entry with co-workers upon his arrival in northern Ontario.

“Everybody wants people to come out to hockey,” he said. And while there are a variety of venues where Sudbury firegfighters might don their skates, there is always that outlet that brings together the brotherhood and sisterhood in one place.

“Everybody kind of does their own thing, but we do have a fire skate on Thursday mornings every week,” said Caruso. “It’s a fun, fast skate. We have guys who have never skated before who will come out and play with us and we have guys who have had a cup of coffee in the NHL or played pro over in Europe.”

“There’s a big range of people, but the pace is fast, which is nice. We try and include everybody and it’s cool to see, because everybody gets better as you go.”

For this particular encounter, however, it will be the firefighting and police department elite on-ice talent, with GSPS Corporate Communications Supervisor Kaitlyn Dunn as anxious as anyone to take in the head to head battle.

“When I came into this role, people had talked about this game but it hadn’t run for a number of years,” she said. “It’s been about a decade since we hosted the game. I thought it would be a great idea to bring it back. Our guys are really excited about it and fortunately, Jim and the firefighters were as well.”

Based on the best available information, it would seem that when the match existed in an official capacity, the momentum would swing back and forth. Even the more informal get togethers have followed that trend.

Rouleau, for one, is not the least bit surprised that motivation is the least of his worries as he readies his troops for action. “This kind of competitiveness always sticks with you,” he said. “Reining it in can be hard, for sure.”

“There are a lot of friends and associates from service to service,” Rouleau continued. “We work together in the same community with the same goal of serving and helping the community. But don’t be fooled: the friendships only amplify the desire to hold bragging rights.”

“It’s always more competitive when you are playing against friends and co-workers.”

Jim Caruso echoes that sentiment.

“We’re both first responders and we obviously have a lot of respect for each other, but when it comes down to the brass tacks in sports, it’s fun to come out on top.”

Kaitlyn Dunn would not want it any other way.

“In the past, it’s definitely gotten intense and I don’t think it will be any different this year,” she said, adding very quickly that a full-out brawl along the lines of what similar outings in New York City have produced in recent years is not at all what she has in mind.

“They’re both going out there to win. They both put it all out there on the ice” – and in the line of duty, for that matter as well.