The Chelsea Fire Department Hockey Team took first place in the 6th Annual Metro-Fire Hockey Tournament, which took place last week at the Stoneham Arena.
Some 16 fire departments participated in the tournament, which was put together by Somerville Fire Department’s Mark Wall. Proceeds from the tournament were donated to the families of Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, who were killed in the line of duty in March while battling a 9-alarm fire in Boston.
The Chelsea Fire Department team defeated Medford Fire on Friday, April 4, 4-0 and Cambridge Fire, 6-2, on Wednesday, April 9. The Everett/Revere Fire Department team handed Chelsea their only loss on April 10, by a score of 10-8.
The Chelsea Fire Department Team advanced to the semi finals where they defeated Somerville Fire 2-0, then defeated Wakefield Fire 3-1 to advance to the tournament finals.
On April 13, Chelsea Fire faced off against Everett/Revere Fire for the championship and a year’s worth of bragging rights. Chelsea jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with goals by Karl Houghton and Nick Quatieri. Everett answered with a power play goal to make it 2-1 at the end of the 1st period. The score was 3-3 with 10 minutes remaining in the game when Karl Houghton scored his 3rd goal of the game putting Chelsea out in front 4-3. Despite an all out assault by the Everett/Revere team in the last two minutes of the game, Chelsea Fire held on to win.
This is the first time the Championship was won by a team other than Somerville or Malden.
The 2014 Metro-Fire Hockey Tournament Champions, Chelsea Fire Department Hockey Team. Pictured in front row, Kevin O’Keefe, Nick Quatieri, Sean Fitzpatrick and Dave Asci. Back row, Al Peters, Steve Purcell, Artie Caissie, Mike Lee, Chris Troisi and Karl Houghton