NYPD, FDNY hockey players brawl during rivalry game at UBS Arena

A pair of brawls broke out during Sunday’s charity hockey game between the FDNY and NYPD at UBS Arena, as New York City’s first responders renewed their rivalry on the ice. 

The NYPD came away with a 3-2 win over the FDNY, marking the first time in a decade that the Police bested the firefighters in the charity game. 

Tied at one roughly eight minutes into the first period, several players on the opposing sides stared walling on one another, and after the final whistle, the NYPD’s celebration was delayed as fists flew once again. 

The brawl began as two pairs of players stared fighting, and while a linesman went to monitor one fight, an NYPD player jumped in to keep one of the FDNY players from continuing to throw haymakers at a member of the Finest’s hockey team. 

Other players from both teams joined the fray and things escalated from there. 

As quickly as things started, they came to a close as the officials gained control of the situation, leading to a very full penalty box. 

After the game, the temperature was still hot as several NYPD and FDNY players traded punches and shoves. 

Both benches came together behind the net and it took several minutes for things to come under control. 

The friendly rivalry between the police and fire departments has often led to very physical affairs when the two sides meet. 

“That passion runs through you. … We stand up for each other, we look out for each other,” FDNY right wing Stephen Kelly told The Post ahead of Sunday’s game. “It’s just like your family at home. You’re going to defend them … whether you’re at work or on the hockey rink. That’s the fire department brotherhood.”

While the fisticuffs flew early in the first period and at the end of the game, the contest remained mostly clean and calmer than certain games in years past. 

More than a decade ago, a massive bench-clearing brawl broke out during the FDNY-NYPD showdown at Nassau Coliseum. 

Nearly every member of both teams – minus the goalies – dropped the gloves during that incident in the second period of a 3-3 tie. 

The game was delayed by 25 minutes as the refs attempted to assess the situation and equipment was cleaned up off the ice. 

There was a dustup that went viral during the 2024 event when a big hit behind the NYPD net led to a line brawl. 

Sunday’s game was the 52nd annual contest between the NYPD and FDNY hockey teams.