Keeping Conor’s memory alive
U.S. golf tournament proceeds getting clock for Tignish rink
Proceeds from a golf tournament held in Uxbridge, Massachusetts last month in memory of a boy from Pleasant View, P.E.I., will fund a new time clock for the Tignish Credit Union Arena. Conor Shea was 14 when he died in a snowmobiling accident near his home in January 2016. This is the second year in a row that American relatives of Conor held a golf tournament in his memory. This year’s Fourth of July event at Blissful Meadows was attended by 76 golfers, including 24 from P.E.I. Jimmy Shea, who lives in Massachusetts and is Conor’s uncle, was one of the organizers. He said a banquet held in conjunction with the best ball scramble event attracted 105 people. All proceeds, including Boston Red Sox items, golf registrations and raffles, raised $10,496 which was donated to Tignish Credit Union Arena in Conor memory. “It’s a gift for all the kids who enjoy going to the rink in Tignish,” Conor’s mother, Tishie, said in describing the decision to purchase a time clock. She said her son, Brad, had come home from hockey one night and said he was looking around the rink to see what could be there to keep Conor’s memory alive and suggested a clock. His mother agreed. “What better way to give back to our home rink and share with everyone who uses the Credit Union Arena,” she said. “This is the sport Conor loved as well as we did. We have so many happy memories there with our family and of course Conor.” The first time the tournament was held it raised $3,500, which was used to pay for four minor hockey registrations, some goalie equipment and to provide prizes at St. Louis and M.E. Callaghan School graduations. The Lussier family, who are Shea family neighbours in Massachusetts, won this year’s tournament while a P.E.I. team of Kyle Fraser, Kenny Shea, Ronnie Santos and Mark Wilson, were runners up. Jimmy Shea said the third annual Conor Shea Memorial golf tournament is booked for next July 4. He said he’s already hearing from Islanders who want to enter.