Police vs. Fire Hockey Game Anchors Snowflake Days Tradition in Coon Rapids

COON RAPIDS, Minn.
On a winter Sunday afternoon, when the cold settles in and the calendar turns toward February, one of Coon Rapids’ most enduring civic rituals returns to center ice. The annual Police vs. Fire Hockey Game, a hallmark of the city’s Snowflake Days celebration, is set for Sunday, February 1, 2026, at noon at the Coon Rapids Ice Center.

The game is more than a novelty matchup. For decades, it has served as a gathering point where residents, first responders, and local institutions meet not in moments of crisis, but in a shared space defined by friendly rivalry, laughter, and winter tradition.

A festival rooted in history

Snowflake Days has been a fixture in Coon Rapids since 1964, growing from a modest seasonal celebration into a multi day winter festival that now stretches across the city. The 2026 edition, running January 30 through February 8, marks the 62nd anniversary of the event, underscoring its longevity as one of the region’s longest running community festivals.

Within that broader slate, the Police vs. Fire Hockey Game has emerged as one of Snowflake Days’ signature moments, drawing families, civic leaders, and longtime residents to the rink year after year.

The matchup and what is at stake

This year’s game brings the Coon Rapids Police Department and Coon Rapids Fire Department back into their familiar “Guns vs. Hoses” rivalry, competing for the Snowflake Days Cup. While the atmosphere is playful and the outcome unofficially settled by bragging rights, the contest is taken seriously enough to keep the stands lively and the ice competitive.

Adding a professional edge to the event, players from the Minnesota Blue Ox, a United States Premier Hockey League team based in Coon Rapids, will skate alongside first responders on both benches. The arrangement has become a crowd favorite, blending local pride with high level hockey skill and reinforcing the collaborative spirit the city emphasizes throughout Snowflake Days.

Tickets and community impact

Admission is priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children, keeping the event accessible for families. Proceeds traditionally benefit the Coon Rapids Community Strength Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports citywide initiatives including the Summer Concert Series and the Fourth of July fireworks.

City officials regularly point to the game as an example of how recreation, philanthropy, and civic engagement intersect. Funds raised on the ice are reinvested directly into events that bring residents together throughout the year.

More than a game

Beyond the final score, the hockey game is designed to create space for informal connection. Residents who may only see police officers or firefighters in emergency situations have the opportunity to meet them as teammates, competitors, and neighbors. Intermissions often feature family friendly games, prize giveaways, and appearances by Rocky the Raccoon, Coon Rapids’ official mascot, keeping younger fans engaged while reinforcing the festival atmosphere.

Part of a larger winter celebration

The hockey game opens a stretch of Snowflake Days programming that includes a citywide Medallion Hunt with a $500 prize, a Snow Sculpture Contest judged on February 3, the Chili Challenge at the Civic Center on February 5, and the Mayor’s Cup Golf event hosted at Bunker Hills Golf Club. Together, the events reflect the city’s long standing effort to turn winter into a season of participation rather than retreat.

For Coon Rapids, the Police vs. Fire Hockey Game remains a reminder that civic life is not only built in council chambers and emergency calls, but also in shared traditions where competition gives way to community, and winter becomes something residents face together, one goal at a time.

MinneapoliMedia