Every year, these firefighters and policemen duel on the ice. And always for a good cause

WEYMOUTH − The town’s firefighters and police officers will lace up their skates and hit the ice Sunday for a charity hockey game that will benefit the nonprofit created by the family of 3-year-old Stephen Squillante III, who underwent a liver transplant this past summer.

The Weymouth Firefighters Union Local 1616 and the Weymouth Police Association will face off in the sixth annual Winter Classic Charity Hockey Game at 7:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, at Connell Memorial Rink, 220 Broad St.

The suggested donation at the door is $20 per family. The annual hockey game always benefits a local cause or a family in need.

Todd Angilly, known as the voice of the Boston Bruins, will sing the national anthem. Hanson police officer Doug Smith, a former professional hockey player and the inspiration for the film "Goon," will drop the puck. Smith next month will donate a kidney to his friend and fellow police officer Jonathan Frattasio.

The game will support Weymouth nonprofit Tiny Transplant Titans

All proceeds from the game will benefit Tiny Transplant Titans, which aims to support children who have received life-saving transplants and those still waiting.

Stephen Squillante III was born with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia. At 5 weeks old, he underwent surgery, a Kasai procedure, which connected his small intestine to his liver. The surgery was unsuccessful, and he went on the liver transplant waiting list in November 2022.

His father, Stephen Squillante II, initially planned to donate part of his liver to his son, but then learned he had a type of blood cancer that eliminated him from donating organs.

After a lengthy screening process, Shannon Squillante donated a portion of her liver to her son in August.

More: Tiny Transplant Titans: Weymouth couple starts nonprofit while 1-year-old awaits new liver

Steve Squillante said his wife and son are both doing great.

"It's amazing to see," he said.

"There have been a few bumps in the road, but overall we could not have hoped or asked for it to go any better," he said.

Before Stephen III's transplant, his family wanted to make tough situations easier for other families and created the nonprofit to offer support. When children are admitted to the transplant floor, families receive a package with a toy, gift cards, a blanket and other small things of comfort.

The nonprofit also provides anniversary gifts, since getting past the first year after an organ transplant is a huge milestone and raises awareness of the importance of organ donation.

Steve Squillante said the family is "beyond honored" that the charity hockey game will benefit Tiny Transplant Titans.

"Our goal is to provide joy to the children and make hospital stays a little bit easier on the families," he said. "Being chosen as this year's charitable recipient will help us provide support to hundreds of pediatric transplant patients as well as help bring awareness on the importance of organ donation."

To learn more about the organization, visit tinytransplanttitans.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth fire and police to lace up for Tiny Transplant Titans