Making a difference in their communities. Lending their time and support to charitable endeavors. Strengthening long-term friendships. Meeting one another and building relationships off the ice, while teeing off at an iconic golf course. For over 25 years, all are indicative of what the NHLPA Golf Classic symbolizes.
Taking place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, for the second straight year, more than 20 current NHLPA members and several former members, along with corporate partners and sponsors, hit the links on Wednesday for the 26th annual tournament.
In addition to each individual player-supported charity, the NHLPA will be donating 25 cents to @KidsHelpPhone from each yard of every drive on hole 10 at today's #NHLPAGolfClassic! Check out our story for all the behind-the-scenes action! pic.twitter.com/YI4RS2zE2h
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 11, 2018
Among the NHL players taking part were Andreas Athanasiou, Andy Andreoff, Connor Brown, Casey Cizikas, Cory Conacher, Logan Couture, Adam Cracknell, Micheal Haley, Taylor Hall, Dougie Hamilton, Freddie Hamilton, Scott Harrington, Adam Henrique, Michael Hutchinson, Nazem Kadri, Scott Laughton, Josh Leivo, Brandon Manning, Brandon Montour, Dalton Prout, Tyler Seguin, Devin Shore and James van Riemsdyk.
"Should we pretend we like each other?" Old @dallasstars teammates reunited at the #NHLPAGolfClassic! pic.twitter.com/qUuijR1Cmq
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 11, 2018
Many former NHL players were also in attendance, including Mark Bell, Mike Gartner, Todd Harvey, Nick Kypreos, Steve Larmer, Grant Ledyard, Mark Osborne, Mike Peca and Scott Walker.
As has been the case throughout its history, the event once again focused on supporting numerous, and noteworthy, charitable causes.
Each current NHLer who attended will receive a share of the proceeds from the Golf Classic for the charity of their choice.
Dougie Hamilton talking about the reason we’re all here today - the causes! Last time around, Dougie helped the @niagarapenguins get custom jackets made. The kids were so thrilled they each hand wrote him a thank you note. #NHLPAGolfClassic pic.twitter.com/G2X9o9l2jA
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 11, 2018
Taylor Hall, the 2018 Hart Memorial Trophy winner and finalist for the NHLPA’s coveted Ted Lindsay Award, chose Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada as his charity for today’s event.
“Any time you have the chance to give back, you’re happy to do whatever you can,” said Hall. “This is a day you get to enjoy playing golf and spending with your fellow players, but you also have the opportunity to shine the light on some great causes.”
Anaheim forward Adam Henrique, a former teammate of Hall’s in New Jersey as well as Windsor in the OHL, selected Stedman Community Hospice as his charity of choice.
“A few friends of mine back home, their families have gone through the hospice,” said the 28-year-old forward. “Seeing how much it meant to them and their families, it’s kind of special that we can help out in any way we can.”
Just a couple of Brantford boys having a time! #NHLPAGolfClassic pic.twitter.com/dwYli8bOo2
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 11, 2018
It’s something Rob Zamuner experienced over his 798-game NHL career.
“The guys love giving back, raising money for worthwhile causes and meeting the corporate partners,” said Zamuner, NHLPA Divisional Player Representative. “As a former player, giving back is a big part of the culture. The current guys are similar to us during the days we played. Any time you have a chance to do something within the community, it’s great to do your part. Devin (Smith, Senior Director, Marketing & Community Relations) and his team, they do a wonderful job putting this all together.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Kypreos, who played nearly 450 NHL games before taking on the role of television hockey analyst.
“I love it,” said Kypreos. “It’s really important to me. It’s important because you recognize your history with it. As a 52-year-year-old guy who has been out of the game for over 20 years, it’s great to see the relationship between the former and current guys. Every year, it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to come together.
“It’s not too much different from when we played, where we were competitive on the ice, but we understood that if there is a mutual respect within that competitiveness, then it’s just part of the game. Being removed the game, you appreciate it even more.”
Prior to the start of the 18 holes, players and guests made their way inside the Glen Abbey clubhouse for a BBQ banquet and reception that was emceed by Toronto media personality Gord Stellick. The afternoon featured a brief speech from Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director, and a Q&A session with current and former NHLPA members.
At the end of the day, Dougie and Freddie Hamilton's foursome took home the top honours for lowest player score of the tournament at 134. Following the tournament, Cory Conacher won the Nobis Par 3 Challenge in a playoff approaching the green on hole #18 to win $6,000 in Nobis clothing, while a total of $10,000 of value in Nobis clothing was awarded to the three top finishers.
Couture, one of the league’s top offensive players and alternate captain for San Jose, was back again this year.
Last year, he won the Charity Challenge, along with $25,000 for See The Line.
“I had one lucky shot that won my charity some money,” said the 29-year-old, who once again chose See The Line as his charity of choice. “It was really nice to win some money for them. It was a lot of fun. You get to play a beautiful golf course and spend time with other players, meet some new ones and have a great day.”
Since its inception in 1993, the tournament has raised over $3.6 million for the designated charities, including over $100,000 today.
Here's a look at some of the causes the players supported this year:
Player
Team
Charity
Andy Andreoff
Tampa Bay Lightning
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Andreas Athanasiou
Detroit Red Wings
Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Connor Brown
Toronto Maple Leafs
Sick Kids
Casey Cizikas
New York Islanders
Kids Help Phone
Cory Conacher
Tampa Bay Lightning
JDFR Canada
Logan Couture
San Jose Sharks
See The Line
Adam Cracknell
Toronto Maple Leafs
East Kootenay Child Development Center
Louis Domingue
Tampa Bay Lightning
Fondation Laurent Duverynay-Tardif
Micheal Haley
Florida Panthers
Noelle's Gift
Taylor Hall
New Jersey Devils
Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada
Scott Harrington
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Neuro
Dougie Hamilton
Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes Kids 'N Community
Freddie Hamilton
UFA
Brock Niagara Penguins
Adam Henrique
Anaheim Ducks
Stedman Community Hospice
Michael Hutchinson
Florida Panthers
SickKids
Nazem Kadri
Toronto Maple Leafs
Nazem Kadri Foundation
Scott Laughton
Philadelphia Flyers
The Claude Giroux Foundation
Josh Leivo
Toronto Maple Leafs
Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation
Brandon Manning
Chicago Blackhawks
The Claude Giroux Foundation
Brandon Montour
Anaheim Ducks
Police Athletic League
Dalton Prout
Calgary Flames
GM St. Clair Green Giants
Tyler Seguin
Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars Foundation
Devin Shore
Dallas Stars
Heart and Stroke Foundation
James van Riemsdyk
Philadelphia Flyers
Boomer Esiason Foundation
