The sixth annual Peace Cup – a hockey tournament to benefit the Martin W. Richard Foundation – will be played at the Canton Sportsplex, located at 5 Carver Circle in Canton on Sat., March 30 at 12 noon followed by a post-game celebration and neighborhood fundraiser at Dorchester’s McKeon Post at 7 p.m.

The event is co-sponsored by Dorchester residents Pat Brophy and Pat Doherty, who are both members of Team MR8, a group of about 100 runners who participate in the BAA Boston Marathon. Brophy won’t be running in the marathon this year due to an injury, but that’s not stopping him from raising money.

Brophy and Doherty were both stopped right before the marathon finish line in 2013. They knew the Richard family well from the neighborhood. When they saw the opportunity to represent the Martin Richard Foundation, they jumped at it.

“We were thinking about a unique way to raise money. We’re hockey players and we knew people who wanted to be a part of the movement, but weren’t runners, so we reached out to some family and friends and had an incredible response,” said Brophy. “The idea of collecting jerseys with the number 8 on them [to honor Martin] was spurred from the NHL Phoenix Coyotes player, Keith Yandle. His family lives in Dorchester, and shortly after the bombings, he wore a jersey with Martin’s name and the number 8 on the back so we thought that was a cool idea and we started to collect jerseys.”

Brophy and Doherty went on to accumulate jerseys from professional teams and athletes, local universities like BC, BU, Northeastern, Harvard, and youth hockey programs like Dorchester Youth Hockey and Latin Academy. Today, all the players on every team wear a jersey with the number 8 on it, and some are lucky enough to wear pink, the color of the jerseys Martin’s soccer team wore.

The tournament is about raising money for the foundation, but also about building bridges and creating friendships that last beyond the hockey tournament.

“It’s a group of neighbors who play – people from Dorchester, people affiliated with running and hockey – who get involved in helping to organize, draft the team and set the schedule. It’s been a really overwhelming experience with the love and support from the Dorchester community,” said Brophy.

This year’s Peace Cup already has about 85 players – some players who have played D1 hockey and others who play for fun on the weekends, some 40-50 years old and some who have just turned 21 – registered to hit the ice. Brophy, who has never actually won the trophy, is looking forward to everyone coming together to support the Richard family and foundation.

“I would say the best part about the tournament is winning, but I’ve never actually won,” Brophy laughed. “But it’s sitting in the locker room and getting to know people. It’s great when Bill [Richard] shows up and when the family can support it. It’s a unique fundraiser partnered with the typical fundraiser at the McKeon post, we have good raffles and raise a few more bucks there, and it’s just overall a great neighborhood party.”

Registration for the hockey tournament is open now until Sat., March 23. It’s $125 to play – that and all other donations will benefit the Martin Richard Foundation. Brophy and Doherty encourage everyone to share this opportunity with friends and family 21 and over. Rosters are limited, but all are invited and welcome to attend.

To register, visit the “6th Annual Peace Cup to benefit the Martin Richard Foundation” Facebook page and follow the link to their online Google doc form.