LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — A local nonprofit is celebrating another record-shattering year with its annual hockey tournament and it’s all to help those who protect and serve our communities.
It was game on in South Londonderry Township, on Saturday when Pennsylvania State Troopers took to the ice for the fifth annual Troopers Helping Troopers hockey benefit.
“A lot of other law enforcement agencies, state and local, have teams so it just seemed like a good fit,” said Mark Dean, President of Statey Grays Hockey.
The nonprofit raises money for members of law enforcement and their families, including trooper Connor Hollenbach.
“I’ve injured on the job and troopers helping troopers has reached out to me for any financial needs, any mental health needs, so they do a broad range of support for troopers and officers alike,” Hollenbach said.
The tournament has raised over 70,000 dollars since 2018.
Dean hopes this year’s tournament raises more than 28,000 dollars and beats last year’s record.
“We set our goals on just being able to and make a little bit of money and each year we make more money to donate,” Dean said.
But the tournament isn’t just about raising money. It’s about sending a message.
“They don’t know they can reach out to them so we’re trying to get that out there to the public, to our brothers and sisters in law enforcement to let them know, ‘hey there is help for whatever is you may be going through,’” Dean said.
Hollenbach agrees.
“Troopers Helping Troopers again has been there for me and my family and that’s from top down that reached out in support,” Hollenbach added.
Organizers from Travel Champs are expected to begin planning next year's tournament later in January.