Babcock Blues win second Victoria-Class Cup

Group Shot: Members of the MARPAC Selects and Babcock Blues gather at centre ice at Wurtele Arena following their Sept. 8 game to celebrate a donation by Babcock Canada $5,000 to the Military Family Resource Centre. (Centre right) Babcock Marine Vice President Keith Cunnane presents a cheque for $5,000 to Esquimalt MFRC Board Chair Samantha Krzywonos. Credit: Peter Mallett/Lookout.

Peter Mallett, 
Staff Writer

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A last-minute goal made the Babcock Blues winners of the Second Annual Victoria-Class Cup Championship hockey game on Sept. 8.

With a 3-3 tie late in the third period and headed to overtime, Blues forward Mike Turner broke the deadlock with MARPAC Selects with just 40 seconds remaining.

“Today’s result was disappointing for the MARPAC Selects but it sets things up nicely and builds our rivalry for when we meet again next year,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Rob (Michael) Tibbetts, MARPAC Selects Captain.

Goaltenders Petty Officer Second Class Randy Collens (MARPAC Selects) and James Fletcher (Babcock Blues) faced a barrage of shots throughout the game. Fletcher was awarded the Rob Sneath Most Sportsmanlike Trophy for his outstanding play and cementing the win for Babcock.

“It was great to win and be honoured after the game,” Fletcher said. He is a retired sailor and previously worked as a Marine Technician and a Stoker at the Base. Before his retirement less than three years ago, he played in goal for the Esquimalt Senior Tritons team.

Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific (CANFLTPAC) Commodore David Mazur and Keith Cunnane, Babcock Marine Vice President, performed the ceremonial opening puck.

The game’s final score did not seem to matter much.

The Esquimalt’s Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) introduced the Victoria-Class Cup in partnership with Babcock in 2019 as a hockey fundraising event for Defence Community members and their families.

“Being able to support an organization like the MFRC is a victory for everyone involved because it does such a great job of supporting our sailors and families,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) David Bisal, the Base’s new Fleet Chief.

Lisa Church, MFRC Community Engagement Manager, said she was delighted with the level of support from the Defence Community.

“The MFRC is grateful for the support we receive from Babcock for the Victoria Cup game and throughout the year,” Church said, adding she feels great about bringing the community together for this ‘feel-good’ event.

“The game was fun to watch, exciting and a true nail-biter right to the end,” Church said. “I am also feeling great about what we achieved in terms of fundraising.”

Fundraising initiatives during the game included a 50/50 Draw, a prize raffle, and a pre-game barbeque. Free food and drinks were available to fans during the game. In 2019, the Esquimalt Senior Tritons prevailed with an 8-2 win over Babcock, while the game raised approximately $5,500 for the MFRC.

While the amount of funds raised for the event was unavailable at press time, Cunnane considerably sweetened the fundraising pot by presenting a cheque to the Esquimalt MFRC for $5,000 following the presentation of the Victoria Class Cup Trophy. He also announced that Babcock Canada and the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League donated 150 tickets to the Base for the Royals Nov. 19 game against Prince George. The Royals will also provide discounted tickets to members of the Defence Team for Royals games in November.

“This game was a great opportunity for fleet members to interact with the Babcock team, get to know them, and develop a friendly rivalry and camaraderie,” CPO1 Bisal said.

Tibbetts said MARPAC Selects look forward to next year to renew the camaraderie and competition with Babcock.

“We are happy to continue the close liaison with Babcock supporting the MFRC in the future,” he said.

Babcock Canada and its industry partners provide In-Service Support (ISS) Contracts to the Royal Canadian Navy and its Victoria-Class submarines.

For more information about the MFRC, the programs they offer, and other upcoming events, visit their website:

www.esquimaltmfrc.com esquimaltmfrc.com.

www.esquimaltmfrc.com