Maple Leafs hirsute winger Mike Brown shaved his hefty beard Thursday morning just so he could grow a new one.

“Feels great,” said the winger in the barber’s chair, wiping his freshly freed flesh at Mankind on Richmond St. “My skin can breathe.”

Six months of growth fell to the barbershop floor in about 15 minutes.

“Movember” — a fundraiser for prostate research as well as a men’s health awareness program — is held every November. Men are encouraged to grow a moustache to raise awareness.

Hockey players — locked out right now — are particularly fond of it, and this year many are competing against each other to raise the most money. Brown is facing Florida Panthers slugger George Parros with the loser having to wear a tie picked out by the winner.

“I’ve got to get the Toronto area on my team to get support,” said Brown.

Fans can back their favourite player at movember.com. Last year, Canadians raised $42 million for the cause, the world leader, according to Pete Bombaci, the organization’s national director.

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