Dozens of local hockey players hit the ice on a pair of backyard rinks this weekend. The 3rd annual Backyard Classic was held Sunday to raise money for a charity started by former Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek. YNN’S Mark Kottler tells us the tournament continues to grow.

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“This would be pretty cool to do a tournament to raise money for Hasek’s Heroes,” said Nick.

Hasek’s Heroes is a charity started by former Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek. It helps children from low income families play hockey.

At first, Nick didn’t know if the concept would work, but then he talked it over with friends and family.

“I reached out them, and they were all like, ‘great idea.’ You know, because hockey takes you back to the roots, back to the backyard pond. That’s where everyone pretty much everyone starts,” said Nick.

“The hours he puts in, And not only the school work and high academics and getting ready for college, But the hours he puts in to kicking this off and doing a tournament like this – it just goes above and beyond,” said Sean Green, executive director of Hasek’s Heroes.

“He has a passion for a sport, and a passion for helping others, and he was able to combine his two interests and has grown this tournament into a great success,” said Dan Penberthy, Nick’s father.

From the backyard, it continues to grow each year. What initially started as a 6 team, 24 player tournament now crosses two backyards, thanks to another teenager, Chris Taggart.

“He called me he offered me up his rink, so that’s where we got two locations this year because our tournament grew so big because of so much popularity,” said Nick.

24 teams – a total of 96 players – hit the ice Sunday. Last year, Nick raised nearly $2,500 to help send children on a trip to Detroit to participate in a hockey tournament. This year, each player pays thirty dollars as an entrance fee. Nick hopes to raise $4,000 for new hockey equipment.

“These kids who’ve never played hockey before, some of them might have, but they’re all using old equipment, but now they’re going to get all new stuff, which is pretty cool,” said Nick.

“We always get kids coming in saying ‘when are we going to suit up in full equipment?’ Well, now we are going to give everyone the opportunity to suit up in full equipment,” said participant Joe Gagliano.

Even with all this success, Nick isn’t done. Eventually he envisions a backyard classic for all of Western New York.