Like an emergency services version of Paul Henderson, a former member of the Blairmore Fire Department has helped beat out the Ruskies to win a gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Fairfax County, West Virginia.

On Canada Day, Calgary’s firefighter hockey team and left-winger Tom Margetak, beat an opposing squad made up of Moscow police officers 5-4 in the championship final to claim the Division 1 hockey title.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Margetak in a telephone interview. “A good experience going down there with the whole team and I think a lot of guys enjoyed it.”

The Calgary firemen’s team was stacked with talent. They were captained by Brad Ference, a former Calgary Flames defenseman who was picked 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1997 draft and many of their players had Junior A and major junior experience.

Margetak played Junior A hockey for the Camrose Kodiaks, the Sherwood Park Crusaders and the Quesnel Millionaires.

The Calgary team beat out two Russian squads, a Swedish team, an American team and three other Canadian teams to win gold.

Margetak was born in the Pass and spent five years with the Blairmore Fire Department.

“It was a lot of fun, a lot of good guys,” he said. “I got brought into it by my dad. It wasn’t as busy as it is in Calgary but we did have our moments.”

He became a Calgary firefighter in 2012.

Held every two years, the World Police and Fire Games attract over 12,000 professional public safety athletes from 70 countries who compete in over 60 events. In 2017 they’ll be held in Montreal, Quebec.