Rival Police Departments Face Off For Commander Battling Cancer

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Two rival police departments are joining forces to help an officer in need.

The Chicago Police Hockey Stars made the trip to St. Paul on Tuesday to play the St. Paul Police Warrior Hockey Club. But this was no ordinary game at Xcel Energy Center.

The two teams were there to raise money for St. Paul Commander Trish Englund, who was recently diagnosed with both lung and liver cancer.

John Lauritsen talked with members of both teams about the unique fundraiser.

It started as two police hockey clubs who just wanted to get together and scrimmage. But when news came out about Commander Englund, it changed everything. The Wild got on board and gave both teams ice team so they could help an officer in her time of need.

A police presence outside Xcel Energy Center lets you know that something out of the ordinary is happening inside. Chicago and St. Paul Police Officers traded in their uniforms for skates and sticks. They were playing to win, but mostly they were playing for a fellow officer.

"She is who she is and she's amazing," St. Paul Sgt. Dylan Flenniken said. "From the chief on down to the newest officer, everybody respects Trish."

Flenniken is talking about his former partner, Commander Trish Englund. Earlier this year, Trish had been having health problems.

"After they did all the scans and everything came back it was worse than they thought it was a long day," Flenniken said.

Cancer had spread to her liver and lungs. Officers take care of their own, even if they're from another city or the opposing side. Which is why Chicago police had no problem making the trip to help.

"She's one of us. To be able to come out and raise some money for her, we're humbled and honored to be a part of this," Joe Barrera with the Chicago Police Department said.

And it wasn't just hockey. Bagpipes played for the officer known as "Irish Trish." Donations and auctioned-off autographed jerseys from both the Wild and Blackhawks will help an officer whose known for helping others.

"She's humble because she doesn't want everyone to know what she does. She does it because it's the right thing to do and that's one of the great things about her and her personality," Flenniken said.

Trish was not feeling well enough to talk with us today, and will be undergoing some intense chemotherapy in the future. There is a GoFundMe page set up for Trish and so far nearly $8,000 has been raised.

Trish's friends and co-workers were also hoping to raise a few thousand dollars through Tuesday's hockey game as well.

Officer Englund isn't the only person the state of hockey is rallying around. At Tuesday night's Wild-Blackhawks game, the teams will honor Matt Olson. The former Minnesota high school player was paralyzed last month during a game in Chicago.

Tonight, his family will make the "Let's Play Hockey" call before puck drop and players from both teams will wear special stickers on their helmets.