The Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight, and in anticipation of hockey fans' favourite time of year, 192 people gathered at the Living Casino Event Centre on Monday for the Third Annual Black Tie Hockey Draft.

The draft saw the crowd draft their teams in the hope of winning the grand prize of $7,500, but also placing their bids on the silent and live auction items to raise money for two causes.

The proceeds from the draft support the Swift Current 57's Field of Dreams committee and the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, who are making plans this year to raise money for upgrades to the digital mammography unit at Swift Current's Cypress Regional Hospital.

Clay Thompson, the executive director of the Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation, said that this year's draft was another success.

"We had a sellout crowd, and I think everybody had a great time," he said. "It went really, really well from a fundraising point of view. It exceeded our budget which is always a good thing for us."

Former voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 20 years, Rod Pedersen, was at the event as the MC. Thompson said that somebody as well known in the Saskatchewan sporting community as Pedersen helped them along.

"Rod Pedersen was in town on a speaking engagement and was gracious enough to join us to serve as our MC, and that really helped us," he said. "He brought a little bit of humour and life to the event that was certainly appreciated."

Rod Pedersen speaking at the event

Brad Woods, who is the Field of Dreams Committee Chair, said that overall, things went great on Monday night.

"I was really pleased with the turnout, the atmosphere of the event, and the commitment of the people at the event realizing it's for a good cause," he said. "The people coming to the event are interactive, and they are getting involved with the auctions, and they are making the event the fun night that it was. I thought everybody really bought into what we were trying to do and it made for a really good night."

Woods said that the money they receive from the event would go towards helping with some of the additional costs for the new clubhouse.

"One of the biggest challenges that we have now with the ballpark is we have the beautiful new facility, but with anything new, you get the bones and things like that in place, and there's always the additional dollars. I think some of the money we are able to make last night helping furnishings and fixtures for the clubhouse."

Thompson added that before expenses he believes that the event raised anywhere from $70,000 to $75,000 which would be split between the Dr. Noble Irwin Healthcare Foundation and the Field of Dreams committee.