Battle of the Bears
UMaine Alumni vs Bruins Alumni
Join the Battle. Make an Impact.
Earn Your Place.
Register as a team — representing your department, business, school, or community group — or as an individual fundraiser supporting your hometown or Team Canteen 19. Every dollar you raise moves you up the leaderboard.
The top 10 individual fundraisers earn a shot at suiting up with the Bruins Alumni or UMaine Alumni, or serving as Honorary Coach on the bench, plus VIP Meet & Greet passes. The top 2 fundraising teams join the alumni on the bench during warmups. Special awards go to the top Fire & EMS team, top Police & Dispatch team, and top Community Organization.
Join the FundraiserHockey for Healing, Hope, and Community
Some hockey games are played to determine a winner. Battle of the Bears is played to remind us that, when a community comes together, everyone wins.
This event was born from tragedy, but it is driven by hope. It honors the firefighters, first responders, mill workers, families, and community members whose lives were forever changed by the Robbins Lumber Mill explosion. It is a chance for all of us to stand together and say, you are not alone.
Every ticket purchased, every sponsorship, every auction bid, every raffle ticket, and every cheer from the stands becomes an act of compassion. Together, we are helping provide meaningful support to those impacted while demonstrating the incredible strength of a community that refuses to leave its neighbors behind.
Maine is not just a state, it's a neighborhood — an incredible community that comes together to help one another. This event is about more than raising funds. It is about celebrating the values that define Maine: service, resilience, generosity, and looking after one another in times of need. It is about honoring those who answered the call without hesitation and recognizing the sacrifices made by so many.
The partnership between the University of Maine Alumni, the Bruins Alumni, Canteen 19, Unified Special Hockey of Maine, and countless volunteers and sponsors demonstrates what can happen when organizations unite for something greater than themselves. Hockey becomes more than a game — it becomes a vehicle for healing, hope, and human connection.
As you watch the players take the ice, remember that every shift represents something bigger than the scoreboard. It represents lives touched, burdens shared, friendships strengthened, and a community choosing compassion over despair.
Thank you for being part of this special day. Your presence sends a powerful message that kindness matters, generosity changes lives, and together we are stronger than any challenge we face. Together, we honor the past, support the present, and inspire hope for the future.
Welcome to the Battle of the Bears.
Together, we play for healing. Together, we play for hope. Together, we play for each other.
Firefighter Andrew Cross · Assistant Chief Wayne Woodbury · Alden Robbins
and everyone affected by the Robbins Lumber Mill explosion
- Full event program
- Access to all main activities
- Donor recognition
- Full event program
- Access to all main activities
- Commemorative coin
- Donor recognition
- Full event program
- Access to all main activities
- Commemorative t-shirt
- Hockey puck
- Donor recognition
- Full event program
- Access to all main activities
- Commemorative event jersey
- Hockey puck
- Donor recognition
- Full event program
- Access to all main activities
- Commemorative event jersey
- Hockey puck
- Donor recognition
- Invitation to VIP reception
Canteen 19 is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting first responders, strengthening communities, and bringing people together through service. Founded on the belief that no one should face difficult times alone, Canteen 19 provides food, refreshments, and logistical support to emergency personnel during extended incidents, training events, and community emergencies.
Beyond emergency response, Canteen 19 partners with local organizations to promote public safety, health and wellness, community inclusion, and volunteerism. Through initiatives like the Battle of the Bears, Canteen 19 uses the power of hockey to honor heroes, support those impacted by tragedy, and raise funds that make a meaningful difference in the lives of firefighters, first responders, and the communities they proudly serve.
- Naming rights to the event
- 16 event tickets
- VIP reception access
- Limited edition event t-shirt
- 1 limited edition jersey
- Premium recognition on all materials
- Top logo placement on all promotional materials, rink signage, media, announcements, and the event program
- 8 event tickets
- VIP reception access
- Limited edition event t-shirt
- 1 limited edition jersey
- Logo placement on event signage, website, and program
- 4 event tickets
- VIP reception access
- Limited edition t-shirt or puck
- Logo placement on event signage and website
- 4 event tickets
- Limited edition t-shirt
- Name listed on event website and program
- 2 event tickets
- Name listed on event website
Grab your seat, bring your people, and let's fill Alfond Arena for a cause that deserves it.
Get Your Tickets →