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ORO-MEDONTE — The Boots and Hearts Barn Burner is kicking it up a notch this year.
After raising more than $400,000 last year, the charity hockey game is gunning for $500,000 or beyond from this year’s Aug. 6 game.
“Our goal is over 10 years to raise $25 million through the Boots and Hearts Barn Burner,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, the annual event’s host and chairman. “What we’re talking about is a huge acceleration in the amount of dollars we’re going to raise in the community.”
Nuttall officially launched the 2025 event during a news conference Monday afternoon, held at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, joined by National Hockey League defenceman Isaak Phillips, who's part of the Winnipeg Jets organization.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer as a local kid, to come out and help,” said Phillips, who is from Barrie. “All of us hockey players, you kind of have that duty. I don’t think of myself as someone kids look up to, but I remember when I was 15 I came out to the first Barn Burner and watched with my parents in the stands.
“Now, seven or eight years later, it’s pretty awesome to come out and play,” added Phillips, who was traded from Chicago to Winnipeg in mid-January. “I still look up to some of the guys I’m playing with out there.”
The Barn Burner roster typically features 26 professional hockey players from the NHL and Ontario Hockey League, along with players from the Professional Women’s Hockey League, as well as community players.
Player rosters will be announced in the coming weeks ahead of the game.
The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Foundation, the John Tavares Foundation, PIE Education, Rotary Club and many more charitable initiatives receive funding from the Barn Burner, which has raised more than $2 million to date.
Nuttall said Monday that 2,600 tickets to the game have already been sold.
They are on sale at www.ticketpro.ca.
The Barn Burner takes place in Barrie at Sadlon Arena, located at 555 Bayview Dr., on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and puck drop will be at 7 p.m.
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