It was hockey-celebrity heaven at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre (LGCC) as retired pros flocked from all over the country to support the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation’s (LRHF) One Final Drive for Healthcare celebrity golf tournament.
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The tournament was started by Cory Cross and Wade Redden and taken over by Scott Hartnell, Clarke MacArthur and Braden Holtby.
This year’s tournament, held on June 4, included celebrity players like Mike Smith, Jordin Tootoo, Kurt Bensmiller and Jon Mirasty, who brought along three of his Shoresy co-stars Alex Penner, Max Bouffard and Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat.
A young volunteer was all smiles for a photo-op with ex-NHLer Scott Hartnell, after getting his T-shirt signed.
Sierrah Bennett Media photo
The tournament also featured a long-drive demonstration by two-time long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski, who hails from St. Paul and played junior hockey in Bonnyville.
Official totals aren’t in yet, but LRHF CEO Stephanie Munro said the foundation’s $200K goal should be surpassed.
Funds from this year’s tournament supported the foundation’s Greatest Needs Fund, which is used for purchases not on the capital fund’s list within
community healthcare.
“We had a three-year commitment for the maternity ward for panda
warmers and fetal heartrate monitors, so funds raised will help us close out the commitment,” said Munro. “In addition to our foundation, we also decided to support KidSport and the Lloydminster Rescue Squad.”
Sierrah Bennett Media photo
For the former NHLers involved, whether they were local or friends of the locals, it was a chance to raise money for a great cause while catching up with old friends.
“It’s about giving back to the community that’s been so great to us. All of us grew up playing here and got support from local people and businesses. When Bill Spence put it together to reignite everybody, it was easy for us to say yes and want to come back and do this,” said MacArthur. “I have a wife and kids now. It’s nice to bring them home and show them where I grew up.”
MacArthur explained he got some practise in at the LGCC with a cousin and one of his sons before the tournament, which brought him back to summers as a kid when the entire season cost $100.
“When you’re a young kid in Lloydminster idolizing guys like Wade Redden and Cory Cross, it’s great that Clarke and I could pick up what they started a few years ago,” said Hartnell. “To see what they did for the community and how respected they are in the community, you have role models in life, and they’re definitely that for me. Coming back to Lloydminster is always great.”
Retired NHL netminder Mike Smith might not be from the area, but he knows how important giving back to community is.
“Any chance you get to give back to a local community is a great one. Great people, great cause,” said Smith. “It’s easy to say yes when raising money for a good cause is the goal, and it’s easy to say yes to guys that mean so much to this community.
“It’s also about trying to do your part to help the next generation and people in need. It’s my first time in Lloyd and I’m looking forward to a good day.”
A product of Churchill, Man., Jordin Tootoo was excited to be able to do his part last week.
“For what we did and the support we got from community members in small towns, this is a way of saying, ‘Thank you.’ Any time we get a chance to give back to our communities and raise funds, it’s a no-brainer,” said Tootoo.
“We’re all human beings at the end of the day and events like this brings the sport together.”
For Cross and Redden, coming back for one final drive was an easy yes.
“For me, it’s a ‘thank you’ to a lot of the people that helped me get to the NHL, and this community was a big part of my journey and helping me get to where I was able to get,” said Redden, who took some of his fellow Kelowna, B.C., neighbours for a tour around his old stomping grounds.
“We had a couple years where we did it, it was a huge success and brought everyone in the community together. This is one last drive to raise some money, and it’s great seeing some familiar faces.”
Although a Kelowna resident himself, Cross can still be spotted around the Border City on occasion.
“It’s always good to come back to Lloyd and raise some money for a good cause,” said Cross.
“It’s been 20 years since Wade and I had our tournament, so it’s nice to come back and do it one more time.
“We’re fortunate that we played in the NHL and we all grew up around here, playing minor hockey here, so it’s important for us to come back and show gratitude we have for the community and everybody that helped us get there.”
Former hockey player and chuckwagon
racing legend Kurt Bensmiller, who’s originally from Dewberry, explained it’s all about community.
“Any time you get to help organizations like the ones we’re supporting is great. I’m from Dewbery, but Lloydminster’s part of our group, this is where we go for everything,” said Bensmiller. “It’s a big deal for me to be able to help any way I can.”
Jon Mirasty and Alex Penner used to duke it out on the ice before being co-stars on Crave’s Shoresy. Mirasty, who hails from Meadow Lake, Sask., invited Penner and Shoresy co-stars Max Bouffard of Ontario and Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat of Loon Lake.
“It’s a great cause and anything for a great cause is important to be involved in,” said Mirasty. “My wife’s in the health-care system, so for me it’s a close thing. Nurses are the real helpers. I’m just happy to be here.”
Penner, who may have been a monster on the ice but is a gentle giant in person, explained he loves giving back.
“I love to make sure I’m giving back to the community and helping anyone I can in any way I can. It’s a no-brainer for me,” he said. “It’s also great seeing guys I haven’t seen since I was 18 years old. It’s awesome to reconnect, and when there’s charity involved, it’s a no-brainer.”
“It’s great to give back and we do it for the kids, the fans, whoever. It’s important we give back when we can, where we can. Everybody’s on borrowed time,” added Bouffard, who plays JJ Frankie JJ on Shoresy.
Kytwayhat, who plays coach Sanguinet, is no stranger to the Border City, and although he couldn’t golf due to a leg injury, he was happy to be here.
“Considering the cause we’re helping out, we need more and more. I think the cause is great and I’m really happy I got to be a part of it, especially so last minute,” he said, noting he and Bouffard got the invite two weeks prior to the event.
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