It was a great day to be on the water and raise money for a good cause.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper hosted the sixth annual Coop’s Catch for Kids, on Monday morning in downtown Tampa.

The tournament started back in 2016, and raises money for pediatric cancer research and patient services, supporting patients and families locally through a number of charities via the Lightning Foundation and nationally through the V Foundation, which was founded by Dick Vitale.

Vitale, a cancer survivor himself, attends annually but wasn’t able to make it this year due to his own health battle.

Cooper was inspired to create “Coop’s Catch” after meeting a boy named Tony Colton at the Sneaker Soiree. Colton loved to fish, and was in the midst of battling cancer.

“Tony is a big inspiration for why we're still doing this. Unfortunately, we lost him in 2017. Every time I'm on the water, he’s right there fishing with me,” said Cooper.

Wayne Gretzky, who admittedly isn’t the best fisherman, was newly in attendance this year.

“I’m probably one of the only Canadians that’s not a fisherman,” said Gretzky.

Gretzky lives a few hours from Tampa and made the drive up with his wife on Sunday afternoon.

“It's not about what we're doing, it's about raising awareness for the kids who are battling, and the families who are battling,” said Gretzky.

“The great thing about our game is the people in the game. It’s nice to see all the players show up today. Jon is a wonderful coach, more importantly, he's a great man.”

Coop's Catch for Kids is a day of fishing and fundraising, where Cooper and the entire Lightning roster join participants on the water.

“They're the real fighters. I mean, we play hockey for a living. It’s nothing compared to what these warriors go through,” said Victor Hedman.

“We're super excited to put a smile on their faces and help them get through at least one of these days, with hopefully a little bit more ease.”

You will often see a number of the kids who are going through treatment, at practice with the players or in the locker room after games. As a team and individually, the Lightning continue to give back in numerous ways.

“To be in the situation I’m in, I know I’m a hockey coach for an NHL team, but to have another purpose outside of that, this is it,” said Cooper.

“I hope they get to forget everything that brings them down in life.. and for four hours, this is the greatest time of their life.”