LEWISTON — You want hockey? The Androscoggin Bank Colisee has hockey. The question is: for whom to cheer?

The Annual Fire & Police Winter Games kick off with an opening ceremony Sunday afternoon. That’s about it for pomp. After that, it’s all hockey, played by the men and women who keep us safe all year long.

Good luck choosing a favorite when the match-ups look like this: the Maine Air National Guard versus Maine Firefighters. Lewiston police versus Boston Fire. Maine Army Guard versus Maine Air National Guard.

In all, seven teams will skate against one another at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston. The first puck will drop at 8 a.m. Monday and then it’s hockey upon hockey right into Wednesday afternoon.

The team of Lewiston police officers took the gold last year. That’s no surprise – this is a team that plays together all year long and usually skates against a squad of former Boston Bruins just to stay in practice.

As if the rivalries aren’t hot enough, organizers turned up the heat a little bit with a new addition to the league.

“This year we have added an Army team, making for some fun rivalry with the Air National Guard who was in the games last year,” said Brenda Espinoza, executive director of the games.

The teams are made up of heroes, so it’s no surprise that the event will benefit people in need. All proceeds are going to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and Special Olympics.

A day ticket to the event costs $10, or if you’re really into hockey, you can get a tournament pass for $5 more. That includes every game, even the championship on Wednesday.

The event is expected to draw good crowds in a city suddenly starved for hockey after the dissolution of the hometown Maineiacs. Vendors will be on hand at the event and the International Police & Fire Winter Games Committee will be there selling T-shirts and sweatshirts and offering up a daily 50/50 raffle.

It’s mostly good times, but the skaters have not forgotten what’s at stake. It’s hockey after all, and at the Lewiston Police Department, there’s the gold to keep.

‘”Of course we’re going to win,” said deputy police Chief James Minkowsky.

What you need to know about the IFPWG hockey tournament:

Opening ceremony: 3 p.m. Monday at Kora Shriners Temple on Sabattus Street, Lewiston.

First game: 8 a.m. Saturday

Tickets: $10 for a day ticket, $15 for the whole shooting match

Championship: 6 p.m. Wednesday

Who to cheer for: Entirely up to you.

The teams

1. Boston Fire

2. Lewiston police (winner of last year’s gold) defending their title

3. Maine Fire, Silver medals from last year

4. Third Watch Hockey, (Fire, Bangor)

5. Maine Air National Guard, Bangor

6. Maine Army Guard, Augusta

7. Sanford police, Bronze winners 2011

Monday

Maine Army Guard vs. Maine Fire 8 a.m.

Lewiston PD vs. Sanford PD 9 a.m.

Third Watch vs Maine Air National Guard 10:20 a.m.

Boston Fire vs. Maine Fire 11:30 a.m.

Lewiston PD vs. ME Army Guard 12:40 p.m.

Tuesday

ME Air National Guard vs. Maine Fire 7:30 a.m.

Third Watch vs. Maine Army Guard 8:40 a.m.

Lewiston PD vs Boston Fire 9:50 a.m.

Sanford PD vs. Third Watch 11 a.m.

ME Army Guard vs. ME Air National Guard 12:10 p.m.

Boston Fire vs. Sanford PD 1:20 p.m.

Wednesday

Consolation Game 10:10 a.m.

Bronze Game 12:20 p.m.

Championship Game /closing ceremony 6 p.m.