When Al Iafrate fell to the ice nine years ago, he didn’t know if he’d skate again.

“It seemed like I was choking to death,” he says.

The former NHLer suffered a heart attack while coaching a minor hockey team in Middle Fenwick, ON. Luckily, he was administered the proper treatment and made a full recovery.

“Ever since then, I’ve kind of bonded with all these Heart and Stroke events.”

One such event is the BMO Hockey Heroes fundraiser taking place in the Halifax area this weekend. The event sees some of hockey’s greatest lace up their skates in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“It’s kind of a win-win,” says Iafrate. “It’s a formula and a model that works. It definitely raises money for the cause, and the participants are Hall of Famers and all stars, players that they’ve idolized and watched growing up. So it’s great for everyone involved.”

The Hockey Heroes fundraiser will celebrate its fifth year this weekend and will include a draft of NHL alumni, silent and live auctions, and an All-Star Game in which the top fundraising team takes on a team of NHLers.

The event has raised $1.5 million for the Heart and Stroke Foundation over the past four years.

“It’s an incredible event that brings about awareness,” says Christine Baker, the director of fund development at the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “Unfortunately in Atlantic Canada, we don’t have the best results when it comes to obesity rates and other risk factors which can lead to heart attack and stroke, so this is an opportunity to engage people in our mission.”

Baker says teams are comprised mainly of men 25 and older from different corporate groups, office teamsand hockey leagues. This year has seen an expansion provincewide, with teams participating from Cape Breton and the Annapolis Valley.

Each of the 15 teams has committed to raising a minimum of $16,000 for the event. Baker says the teams start fundraising as late as October through sporting pools, poker nights, pub night, golf tournaments, and various individual fundraisers.

“Oftentimes teams will finish the year and start fundraising for the next year,” she says.

The event will kick off Friday with a draft of NHL alumni.The highest fundraising team will have first selection of the ex-NHLer of their choice.

Iafrate says the draft is one of his favourite parts of the weekend.

“The anticipation of who you’re going to be playing and the team that you’re on, and just spending time and bonding with the team that drafted you is great,” he says.

NHL alumni competing in the game include Denis Savard, Eric Daze, and Gary Leeman.

The All-Star game takes place Saturday at the BMO Centre in Bedford. Tickets are $10, with all proceeds going to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.