Doing one of the things they love the most, cast and crew members from Republic of Doyle, along with a host of entertainment industry personalities, hit the ice this winter in St. John’s, Newfoundland to raise $12,000 for the Actors’ Fund of Canada’s Film and TV Charity Challenge.

Although taking place in November, the Actor’s Fund only released the results of the annual Killgallon Cup fundraising hockey tournament this week.

The $12,000 raised surpassed the previous $11,700 record held by CBC’s Heartland – far from the five dollars the fund first raised when it launched in 1958.

More than $800 was raised at the door, supplemented by a $5000 contribution from film technicians union IATSE Local 849. $5200 came from Doyle producers, and Directors Guild of Canada – Atlantic Regional Council contributed $1000.

Two teams made up of Doyle cast and crew – the Doyle Hockey League and the Republic Hockey Association – played against each other and against the Toronto Morningstars, a team that included Dave Bidini of Bidiniband, and Playback’s own creative director, Stephen Stanley.

Russell Crowe couldn’t make it to the tourney, but he’ll be making an appearance in the season three Doyle premiere on Jan. 11 at 9 p.m. on CBC. His guest role in the premiere will see Crowe reunite with his co-stars from 2010’s Robin Hood, in which Doyle‘s Alan Doyle, Scott Grimes and Kevin Durand played his Merry Men.

That’s not the only Crowe connection to Republic of Doyle, however. When Crowe’s not making merry onscreen with the Doyle crew, he’s making music with them offscreen. In fact, Crowe and Great Big Sea frontman Doyle released the Crowe/Doyle Songbook, Vol. III last August. CBC Live has a handy breakdown of the creative connections here.

The Actors’ Fund of Canada provides emergency financial aid to film and television industry workers.