Flames and Oilers fans battle to fundraise for rival city's charities

Edmonton Oilers fans and Calgary Flames faithful are trying to kill each other with kindness.

The Battle of Alberta fan bases responded to the latest case of bad blood between Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk and Oilers winger Zack Kassian by donating money to charities in their rival team's city.

The exchange began after Flames fan Mohamed Elsaghir started a GoFundMe page to have Tkachuk's face put on billboards in Edmonton. When Calgary radio station CJAY92 pledged to cover the cost of the billboards, the money raised from the fundraiser was instead donated to ALS research.

In response, Oilers supporter Samantha Costa decided to launch her own initiative, donating to a Calgary charity in Kassian's name so that "kids can get a proper meal and grow up to be tougher than Tkachuk."

Costa donated $25 to Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids, a local charity that makes lunches for underprivileged children.

The movement was taken to the next level when local entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den star Brett Wilson got on board. Wilson pledged to match up to $10,000 of whatever Oilers fans raise by Friday at noon. He also said he'd give an additional $5,000 to an Edmonton shelter chosen by Costa.

Before 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids announced $16,199 had been raised.

The Flames and Oilers are set to meet again Jan. 29 in Edmonton.