CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Salute to Heroes Charlotte Foundation will host its annual hockey game this weekend to raise money for first responders in North Carolina and South Carolina.

The city’s police officers and firefighters will face off Saturday. It comes just days ahead of what will mark one year since the deadly shooting that claimed the lives of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Joshua Eyer, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction officers Samuel Poloche and William Elliott and U.S. Deputy Marshal Thomas Weeks.

CMPD Officer Michael Giglio, who was shot in the April 29 attack, will play in the game for the third time. 

“Last year with April 29, the foundation stepped in and really helped me out a lot without me asking,” Giglio said. “Being here and being part of it is for a good cause.”“Last year with April 29, the foundation stepped in and really helped me out a lot without me asking,” Giglio said. “Being here and being part of it is for a good cause.”

Giglio said this year’s game has a different meaning than the others he has competed in in the past.

“All the games have a lot of meaning because of what we're playing for and who we're playing for,” Giglio said. “Personally, I worked with Josh [Eyer] for about three and a half years. For me personally, it has a different meaning to it.”

Recovering from the shooting has been a journey for Giglio. He said it was his priority to return to work as quickly as possible.

“Physically, recovery went well,” Giglio said. “Thank God. I have great doctors and physical therapy. There's other aspects to healing aside from just the physical part. That's kind of a work in progress.”

With Giglio back to work, his teammates are excited to welcome him back on the ice.

“To have him back on the ice fully healthy ready to go, it's good to see,” Officer David Tropeano said.

The Salute to Heroes game will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Bojangles Coliseum.