Hockey Night in Barrie is one of the highlights of the summer.

Thousands came out to the Barrie Molson Centre Thursday night to watch their favourite players give their all for Barrie's hospital.

Some of the NHL’s best - past and present - laced up their skates with community leaders and politicians all helping to raise money for Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre.

“Anytime you can come out and play against some of the guys you looked up too is fun, even better when it's for a great cause,” says, Nashville Predator wingerJames Neal.

“I think anytime you can raise money for a hospital it’s really important because it's the fabric of the community,” said Olympic Gold-medal goalie Sami-Jo Smalls

This is the seventh year for Hockey Night in Barrie.

Barrie MP Patrick Brown is behind the annual classic which this year is supporting two departments at RVH - the Regional Cancer Centre and in-patient mental health.

“It's fun to play hockey in the summer but the cause is what drives it. Our hospital does so much work but they need that extra help,” said Brown.

Two causes that are especially personal for former NHLer Shayne Corson.

“My dad died of cancer,” says Corson. “I've gone through some anxiety it’s important that we get it out there,”

Money raised through Hockey Night in Barrie has helped RVH provide cancer treatment for patients like Michael Vandenbogarde closer to home.

Vandenbogarde is from Innisfil and just completed his first round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

“We've had very good success with the chemotherapy,” says Michael, “the tumor has reduced down to 3% after six treatments.” 

Money raised over the past six-years has helped pay for new equipment and treatment.

Before the cancer centre opened RVH was able to treat about 42-thousand people per year.Last year 100-thousand people received care.

“The avoidance of travel is so big for the families,” said Eric Dean, C.E.O. of the RVH Foundation. “With just the increase of visits we've been able to handle closer to homewe’ve been able to avoid 3,000,000 km of travel 20,000 hours of family time on the roads.”

Back at the Barrie Molson Centre there were a lot of familiar faces on the ice for fans to cheer for; including Barrie Colts alumni Mark Scheifele, Anthony Camara and Tanner Pearson.For them it's important to be back in Barrie supporting a great cause.

“A lot of memories came out of this rink,” remembers Pearson with a twinkle in his eye. “I think anytime you can give back to charity and help out a good cause. We've raised a lot of money and hopefully we can do the same tonight (Thursday)”.

Thursday’s game raised $251-thousand.

That brings the seven-year grand total to $1.4-million raised for our region’s largest health centre.