Bob Sweeney soaked up all the camaraderie, the goodwill, and the passion first-hand in Toronto two years ago during the Scotiabank Pro-Am ­Alzheimer’s Hockey Tournament, and thought, what a great concept.

A festive weekend gathering of National Hockey League alums, lacing up their skates in a tournament, former pros sharing the locker room, the bench, and the ice with recreational men’s league teams in a major fund-raiser.