The marathon hockey game working to end cancer is back!

Players, volunteers, and sponsors came together Thursday to kick off the second annual 11 Day Power Play Community Shift.

More than 2,000 people will hit the ice to play hockey from July 5-15.

Fans will be able to sponsor players, with donations going to help a variety of organizations, including Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Camp Good Days and Special Times, as well as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This is the third year overall for the 11 Day Power Play, which started in 2017 with 40 people trying to beat a world record for the longest continuously played game of ice hockey. Now there are thousands of players and fans fighting to find a cure for cancer.

"Those 40 players kind of set the path to the 11 Day Power Play Community Shift,” said Amy Lesakowski, the event’s executive director and co-founder. “We wanted to do another marathon hockey game that involved more people. More people to support the cause."

Last year, the event raised more than $1 million, a goal the organizers hope to exceed this year.