Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's not too late to sign up to play or volunteer at the 14th Annual Backyard Classic hockey tournament at Canalside Buffalo.
This two-day event will take place on February 4th and 5th, with games playing from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., where hockey players of all ages can play a unique tournament while raising money for a good cause.
"It really takes hockey back to its roots," said Tournament Director Chris Taggart. "You're outside, you're on Buffalo waterfront. Everyone who's played hockey, has always had the best time outside on that pond hockey rink with their friends, and it's the closest thing that we can get to that in Buffalo."
Originating in Taggart's backyard in East Amherst, this annual event has grown year after year, "We have all ages playing, from six and under kids, boys and girls, all the way up to 30 and older adults, all playing on the same ice, which is very exciting. It's a very family-friendly event and free to come down and watch. We're going to have probably about 60 to 70 teams with about 400 skaters and about 150 volunteers when all is said and done," Taggart says.
Over $200,000 has been raised for causes like Hasek's Heroes, Roswell Park, the Buffalo Sabres sled team and Oishei Children's Hospital since the inception of the tournament and Taggart hopes to raise $50,000 for Oishei Children's Hospital this year.
It's not too late to sign up as a volunteer or register a team, click here to register your team and click here to sign up to volunteer.