Tee time nearing for Maritime NHL’ers for Kids

Event raises money to help kids play hockey

Maritime NHL’ers for Kids is here.

The event kicks off on July 25 at 2 p.m. with a meet and greet at Canadian Tire in Digby that runs until 3:30 p.m. This will be followed by a celebrity appearance at Tideview Terrace for the residents and a welcome reception gala at the Digby Pines. The Tideview Terrace visit and gala are not public events but the meet and greet is, as is a July 26 celebrity and caddie Q&A that runs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Digby Arena.

“There’s lots of events to look forward to, even before tee off,” said Chris Larsen, managing director of Maritime NHL’ers for Kids.

The celebrity golf tournament is aimed at taking the financial barriers away from kids wanting to play hockey.

There are around 30 confirmed celebrities taking part in the tournament. Some will be at the question and answer period at the Digby Arena.

“We’re really pleased with the mixture of celebrities coming,” said Larsen.

According to information posted on the event website last week, confirmed celebrity guests included Boston Bruins NHLer Brad Marchand, Jillian Saulnier and Blayre Turnbull from Team Canada’s Olympic women’s hockey team, sports broadcaster Ron MacLean, former player and NHL head coach Rick Bowness ( who is a co-founder of this tournament), Ryan Graves of Yarmouth now part of the Colorado Avalanche franchise, along with many other former NHLers, NHL scouts, and hockey players ranging from major junior hockey up to the NHL, along with coaches from various levels of hockey, former Olympians, and many more.

NHL’ers for Kids was founded in 2000 by NHL Coach Rick Bowness, along with several retired Maritime NHL hockey players, and a group of business leaders in the Halifax area. It is a nonprofit organization committed to helping ensure minor hockey continues to enrich the lives of Maritime boys and girls whose families face financial challenges.

Now in its 19th year, it has helped more than 3,500 Maritime kids play minor hockey. According to the group’s website, since 2014 Maritime NHL’ers for Kids has partnered with Canadian Tire’s JUMPSTART program to ensure the efficient and appropriate distribution of funds to deserving families in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Over the past three years, over $203,000 has been raised and distributed in the three Maritime provinces.