Have fun while raising funds.

Particularly for a cause like the United Way.

That creed was adopted by the six teams that competed in the fourth annual United Way Ball Hockey Tournament at the Yukon Broomball Association's outdoor rink Friday afternoon.

The event was organized by Briar Young, from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Rose Berndt, from Environment Canada.

At $10 a pop per player, the ball hockey tourney raised $500 and the barbeque raised $384.55 to combine for $884.55.

"It's Yukoners supporting Yukoners,” United Way representative Harold Sher said.

"It raises some very needed funds, and that money stays right here in the Yukon, and is used for programs to support family and youth and children and people living with disabilities, living in poverty or dealing with alcohol or substance abuse issues.”

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), two teams from Environment Canada (EC), Parks Canada (PC), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Yukon Government – Environment (YG-Env) each entered teams in the ball hockey tournament vying for top spot.

The six teams played five 10-minute round robin games a piece to determine playoff standings.

After the opening round, EC 2 (the Mushers) and EC 1 clinched first and second spot respectively.

But after the playoff round YG-Env fought their way to the gold medal game against the EC Mushers.

Both teams were evenly matched offensively, with the EC Mushers gaining a slight advantage to win the Golden Cup – a bronzed jock – with a final score of 2-1.

Stacey's Butcher Block and G-P Distributing donated food and drink for the barbeque, while the YBA donated the facilities and the Canada Games Centre donated the goalie nets.

"It's an awful lot of fun,” said Sher, who was enjoying his second appearance at the tournament. "You can see people's faces, there's a lot of smiles, and people are really enjoying playing these games.”

Young, while in between games, encapsulated the meaning of the event.

"It's our way of supporting the United Way and having fun at the same time, and getting a lot of people to come out for a couple hours to play some hockey,” Young said.

"That's the idea – have some fun for a good cause, raise some money for the United Way, bring departments from across the federal and territorial governments together and just have a good time.”

Sher said he's never surprised by the amount of support for the organization.

"The United Way is very thankful to federal and territorial departments for doing this, and it's nice to see people raising money and having a good time doing it,” Sher said.

"People help the United Way in all sorts of ways – they give by payroll donations, they attend the big breakfast and silent auctions, they attend events.

"It's a very well-known charity, and it does great work and the money stays in the community, so that's what is really of interest to most people. It's really Yukoners helping Yukoners.”

Berndt, who was working the barbeque, said one of the goals is to get the public involved too.

"This is our big finale,” Berndt said of the United Way's end-of-year fund-raiser.

"Everybody looks forward to it. You can have a bite to eat on the way home, and it works out really well.”