Overview
- Social media videos show fights during play and then a larger melee after the final horn at UBS Arena on Sunday in front of a sold-out crowd.
- The NYPD team won 3–2, reported as its first victory over the FDNY since 2016 according to outlets citing the New York Post.
- Players framed the clashes as part of a long rivalry and a sense of brotherhood, with FDNY forward Stephen Kelly saying teammates defend each other like family.
- NYPD captain George Antzoulis said players trained around long shifts and gave up overtime and family time to make the roster, which shows how seriously they treat the game.
- The annual fundraiser, now in its 52nd year, has a history of mass fights, including a 25-minute stoppage in 2014 and a viral scuffle in 2024, even as some reports called this year’s game relatively calmer.