The best-attended hockey game this past weekend in Maple Creek helped raise some funds for a couple of causes.

According to organizers, the 36th-annual Battle of Little Big Puck helped generate roughly $5,300 for Nekaneet youth travelling to the FSIN Winter Games and the Maple Creek Hospital.

Joe Braniff, one of the organizers of the event, said they were pleased with the amount generated from the game.

"To be afforded the opportunity to put something back into your community that helps your friends, your neighbours, and your family, it's a pretty good feeling to do that," he said. "As I've said many times, whenever you can get two cultures, like the two that played in the game working together it really creates a bond because everyone is pulling together."

Over 850 people crammed into the Maple Creek Community Rink Saturday night to watch two cultures embrace one of Canada's national sports, as there has been some racial friction in the province since the Gerald Stanley verdict.

"Kudos to our organizers, our players, and the town to go on with this event," Braniff stated. "We overcame a little bit of adversity there and I think we've proven we're made of pretty strong metal."

The Maple Creek Senior Hawks was also able to turn a profit during the night collecting about $1,950 selling drinks.

Also check out:

Battle of Little Big Puck showing the way for Saskatchewan

and Battle of Little Big Puck bridges cultures again through hockey