The Richmond Spiders and Tennessee Volunteers met to raise money for former Richmond Generals coach and Ice Vol alum Berke Bates, fallen Virginia State Trooper who lost his life during the events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia in August. 

With hundreds of his friends, coworkers, former players and teammates on hand to celebrate the sport he loved so dearly, the scene was set for an incredible night paying tribute to an American hero with rooted ties to both programs and communities - and the game delivered, especially early on. 

As the teams took the ice, Trooper Bates' son Deacon - a youth hockey goalie on his own merit - led the charge and paced Tennessee warmups, leaving after a few turns through warmups and skating off to a roaring applause from the packed house. 

Craig Bates, the older brother of Trooper Bates and a member of the Tennessee hockey hall of fame, dropped the puck on the ceremonial opening faceoff, and was gracious enough to speak to the teams pregame about how the game of hockey was a bonding tie between him and his brother. Craig was effusive in his praise for the hockey community across the country, intimating that he has heard from people in all areas of the nation as the support for his family pours in. 

At the end of the night - and beyond the scoreboard - both the Richmond and Tennessee programs considered the event a resounding success, with hopes of a future, annual contest in Bates' name. 

Richmond Freshman forward Carson Beckett (Haddonfield, NJ) recorded a hat trick and three assists. Freshman forward Kyle Maxwell (Concord, MA) had a hat trick and two helpers, Senior forward Ryan Martin (Roanoke, VA) had a hat trick and an assist, and Freshman forward Craig MacDonald (Walpole, MA) scored his first career goal. Ben Napierala (Syracuse, NY) made 16 saves in net.

Richmond takes on Radford at 5:10pm on Saturday, September 16th.