Cowboy hats and cowboy boots made way for skates and helmets as the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner charity hockey game galloped into Sadlon Arena in south-end Barrie, Wednesday night.
NHL stars and other well-known community members took to the ice in support of several local charities.
The event was sold out and the organizers said they had to release an additional 100 tickets this week to accommodate fans who were still looking to attend.
Connor Cowan was at the game with friends, celebrating his ninth birthday. The young boy, who roots for the local Barrie Colts and San Jose Sharks, said he was excited to see some hockey in the middle of the summer.
"I just got lucky and had this as a gift," Cowan told BarrieToday. "All my friends came and were going to cheer as loud as we can."
Keswick native Chris Tierney, who's a forward with the Florida Panthers, said coming to events like these are good for many reasons.
"It's a great cause for sure, because so many organizations benefit from this event," Tierney said. "It's also good for us because we get to see some guys during the summer we wouldn't normally see. Overall, I think all the players enjoy it and Barrie is a great hockey town."
The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will be one of the primary recipients of the money raised, with the amount not yet known.
John Tabat was excited to see his favourite team's captain as Toronto Maple Leafs John Tavares suited up for the game.
"I've been a Leafs fan since I was able to talk and I'm 47 now," Tabat said. "Its so great to see players giving back like this."
