A total of 2,900 players are taking the ice to play hockey for more than 250 hours. The 11 Day Power Play has returned to Harbor Center for its third year to raise money for the fight against cancer.

After 40 players broke the world record for longest hockey game, and raised $1 million in 2017, the event has evolved and raised more money each year. 

"And we have now made it into the community shift, where we invite many players from our community, of all ages — both men and women — to fight cancer," said Amy Lesakowski, The 11 Day Power Play executive director/co-founder.

Amy and Mike Lesakowski started the power play after Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. They knew the community in Buffalo well enough.

"We're a hockey town, and we're a city of good neighbors, so with that combination, the 11 Day Power Play we hope will remain in place every year, as many years as we can," Amy said.

Already, more than $3 million has been raised for resources like Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Make a Wish and Camp Good Days.

"Just about everybody has lost someone to cancer in their life. I personally have [and] it's affected me in a big way, it affected Mike's family in a big way.

Roswell is such a tremendous organization and a staple of our community. To support Roswell and bring money in for cancer research, that's very important," said Tom Forbes.

"Last year, we were able to send 100 kids to camp - those included patients, their siblings and parents. We also supported 20 wishes through Make A Wish," Amy said.

Over the next 11 days, anyone can come to the rinks to cheer on the players in the different community shifts. As Charles Geraghty says, it's the best of both worlds. 

"You got hockey and then you got people basically getting money to help survive," Geraghty said.