FLYING FATHERS A BIG HIT AT THE MAC

The OPP got creamed by the Flying Fathers Saturday night.

Literally.

The world renowned Flying Fathers hockey club used every means necessary,
including pulverizing their opposition with whipped cream pies, to pull out
a 22-6 victory over the Ontario Provincial Police Association Choir Boys at
the McIntyre Arena before a crowd of more than 1,300 people.

It was the first time in more than 10 years the Flying Fathers played in
Timmins.

Several players on both teams were hit with the pies and even the referee
and linesmen were left white faced and sticky following bad calls.

Even the OPP coach was concerned about the cream pies.

"Even if you're on the bench, you have to watch out for cream pies and the
water," said Gus Mortson, a Toronto Maple Leafs alumni member and four time
Stanley Cup winner.

The game, one in a series of 10 in 11 days, was a fundraiser for the
District of Cochrane Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Board,
Northeast Region D.A.R.E. program and the Timmins Minor Hockey Association.

In a pregame ceremony, the TMHA received a cheque for $5,000. The amount
raised for the D.A.R.E. programs has not yet been released. However, tour
organizer and OPP regional Drug Abuse Resistance Education co-ordinator
Paul Harrison said every group will profit from the game.

Harrison said the money will be put to good use. Every Grade 6 student
across the region takes part in the D.A.R.E. program. There is no cost for
the students to take part in the program but expenditures mount as all the
costs of materials, teaching aids and the officers' time are the
responsibility of the law enforcement agencies.

Schumacher's own Father Les Costello was pleased, along with the Flying
Fathers, to be able to provide such low cost family entertainment and
donate the proceeds to the local D.A.R.E. programs.

Costello led the way for the Flying Fathers. But the former Leafs Stanley
Cup winner said the score wasn't important. Of greater significance was
providing laughs for the crowd.

"With all the stress and tension in the world, it gives us a chance to
laugh and help everyone relax and have a good time," Costello said.

Flying Fathers goaltender Fr. Vaughan Quinn agreed.

"I have to train incredibly hard to keep up," Quinn said. "But it makes it
all worthwhile when I see kids killing themselves laughing. To see their
parents splitting themselves laughing is a thrill. The reason I keep
playing at my age is looking up at the crowd and seeing them all enjoying
themselves."

Harrison, more than any of the other players, knows the importance of the
D.A.R.E. program.

"We're raising awareness (about the D.A.R.E. program) and raising spirits,"
Harrison said. "We get to see the kids smiling every night. Every night its
a new audience. This tour has been a wonderful experience all around. We
need the help of the community."

Harrison, a former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie, played on the Flying
Fathers' team after being cut from the OPP team.

Leading into the tour, some of the other OPP officers were joking Harrison
wasn't good enough to play for either team.

"We've been ribbing him pretty good," said Det. Marc Duval, of the South
Porcupine detachment.

But Duval said in hindsight, it wasn't the best idea.

"He's has been running us all game," Duval said.

The game was a thrill for Duval.

"I saw the Flying Fathers play when I was a kid," Duval said. "I never
thought I'd ever be playing against them."

OPP Const. Gerry Doucette said the game allowed he and his teammates to
show they can get out and have fun too.

"The game gave us a chance to show the public we have a lighter side,"
Doucette said. "It's all for fun."

Over the years, the Flying Fathers have raised more than $4 million for
charities around the world through their hockey games.

The tour continued Sunday in Hearst. Tonight the teams square off in
Cochrane and will play in North Bay and Blind River before wrapping up in
Sundridge Thursday.