An annual tradition pitting police officers against firefighters in a friendly charity hockey game had a deeper meaning and impact this year.

Just five days after three first responders were shot and killed in the line of duty in Burnsville, the “Guns-N-Hoses” charity hockey game was held at the Blaine Super Rink.

Part of the money raised will be going directly to the victim’s families.

“[We] raise money that takes care of those first responders that are hurt or killed in the line of duty [and] five days ago, it got more important,” said Wes Pederson, chaplain for the Lino Lakes Fire Department. “It’s the same cause, now it’s just real.”

The event’s proceeds benefit The Front Line Foundation. The nonprofit has announced it is giving a total of $60,000 in death benefits to the families of Burnsville police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth.

“These men and women of the first responder communities do things we don’t even understand [that] happen when we’re sleeping at night, when we’re at work during the day, when we’re at home and we don’t even think about it,” Pederson said.

“They put their lives on the live every single day so we can have a peaceful life.”

The Hoses — team firefighters — won this year’s game. There were so many in attendance that people were lining the glass to watch.

“It’s such a thankless job, what they do, and it’s nice to see the turnout here supporting them,” said Kyle Rhodes, who was at his first Guns-N-Hoses game.

Support even spilled outside of the rink. Just across the street at Invictus Brewing Co., not only did they air the game on their televisions, but they also donated a dollar to the victim’s families for every beer sold.

RELATED: BCA: Suspect fired more than 100 rounds in Burnsville shooting that killed 3 first responders

Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth were killed after the suspect of a reported sexual assault retreated into a bedroom and opened fire early Sunday morning. A fourth responder, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was also hospitalized but is now recovering at home.

The suspect, Shannon Gooden, was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A public funeral service for the three first responders will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, and will start at 11 a.m.