JOHN ROBBINS/Bullet News

FORT ERIE – After 200 years of peaceful co-existance, things are heating up along the border again.

Well, sort of.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin have placed a “friendly” bet on this weekend’s Canada vs. USA hockey game hosted by the Fort Erie 1812 Bicentennial Committee.

The game, which takes place at the Fort Erie Leisureplex on Saturday at 7 p.m, will feature current junior B and College level players from both sides of the border.

The bet requires the mayor of the losing team to wear the jersey of the winning team to his next public event.

If Team Canada loses, Martin says he’ll sport the Team USA Jersey at the following Monday night council meeting.

If Team USA loses, Brown will wear the Canadian jersey to his next charitable event.

“We don’t want to re-fight the War of 1812,” Martin joked.

“We were pretty happy with the results the first time. But this is hockey and we intend to win.”

Both mayors are expected to attend the game and participate in a ceremonial puck drop.

Fort Erie is the scene of the bloodiest battlefield of the War of 1812 and the stepping off point for the last American invasion of Canada in early July 1814.

Buffalo was burned during the war.

Since then, the two communities have enjoyed close relations, with rivalry mostly limited to sporting events.

Tickets, which are available at the door, cost $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and older. Kids under 12 dressed in Canadian or U.S. apparel can enter the game for free to cheer their country on to victory.

The event will have raffles, prizes, games, and much more, organizers say.

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