On Saturday, March 14, the Lakewood hockey team and alumni played the Lakewood firefighters at Hamilton Ice Arena. The event brought the Lakewood community together for a night on the ice that raised money for local special education programs. The game featured an open skate for the public and was sponsored by Lakewood Fire.
The event supported three special education programs: B.R.I.D.G.E.S. at Garfield Middle School, C.H.A.M.P.S. at Horace Mann Elementary School, and M.I.L.E.S. at Lakewood High School. Organized by the Andregg Foundation, the event was led by Lakewood teacher Nicole Andregg, a first-grade teacher at Grant Elementary School.
“This event was inspired by my husband, who is a firefighter in Lakewood and plays hockey. He wanted to do a charity hockey game. He’s long-time friends with Maureen Crane, a teacher in the C.H.A.M.P.S. program at Emerson. At the time, C.H.A.M.P.S. had something called the C.H.A.M.P.S. Café, where students set up a small coffee stand. People would come and buy coffee from them. We decided to use the money raised from the event to support the café,” Andregg said.
Andregg emphasized her dedication to providing equal opportunities for students with special needs. “Music has boosters, athletics has boosters, and donors support those programs. But there’s no dedicated fund or donor specifically for enrichment opportunities for these students,” she said. “The whole idea is to fund activities that allow kids to get out into the community and participate in enrichment opportunities.”
The game featured multiple tables of raffle prizes and baskets donated by local businesses and organizations. One table supported the M.I.L.E.S. program at Lakewood High School. Teacher Jess David was at the raffle table.
“We put together a basket with homemade dog treats, a dog bandana, and other dog items. There are also gift cards to local restaurants, a hand-carved Cleveland cutting board, and baskets filled with lottery tickets. There’s a lot of variety,” David said.
The raffle added excitement to the event. “I think the raffles have been really popular because there are some amazing prizes, and all the proceeds are profit since everything has been donated. The community has been very generous,” David added.
This event has become popular among Lakewood families because it brings together different parts of the community. “We’ve been coming for the past couple of years. It’s going to be our third year—kind of a tradition,” said Christy Pearson, a Lakewood resident. “It brings people together,” Pearson added.
Andregg talked about how the event highlights community connection. “It’s such a great community event, like bringing the fire department together with Lakewood High School alumni, and then having so many different members from the city come. We have council members there. Capturing the essence of it, it’s so amazing to watch the community work together that way. I really enjoy just seeing the general essence.”
This year was especially successful, raising over $6,000 in donations—double the amount from previous years. This milestone highlights the community’s support for local education. Over the past four years, the Fire & Ice hockey game has raised more than $13,000. The event continues to grow as a Lakewood tradition supporting local special education programs.
The Fire & Ice hockey game continues to grow as both a fundraiser and a community tradition in Lakewood. By bringing together students, families, firefighters, and local organizations, the event highlights the impact a connected community can have. With continued support, it is likely to remain an important way to fund special education programs and create opportunities for students in the years ahead.
