Former NHL star special guest at upcoming fundraising golf tournament
By Sam Laskaris
CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION—Former National Hockey League star Reggie Leach will once again be featured at a fundraising golf tournament and breakfast in Orillia.
Leach, a member of the 1975 Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers, will take part in the fourth annual Friends of Rama Little Native Hockey League golf tournament this Friday.
The event will be staged at the Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club in Orillia.
Proceeds from the tournament will go towards sending clubs from Chippewas of Rama First Nation to the annual Little NHL event, traditionally held in March.
Leach, who played in 1,028 NHL games, has attended the Orillia golf tournament every year since its inception.
Leach, an Ojibwe from Manitoba’s Berens River First Nation, currently lives on Manitoulin Island’s Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation.
As in previous years, Leach will attend a pre-tournament breakfast held at the golf club. Tickets, which are available to members of the public, cost $25 each.
The breakfast portion will run from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m.
And there’s still time for golfers to register if they wish to take part in Friday’s tournament. The entry fee is $125 per person.
Ted Williams, a councillor with the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, is thrilled Leach will once again be part of the golf tournament.
“He’s been a mainstay all four years,” said Williams, a former chief of Chippewas of Rama First Nation. “He’s become a good friend of those in the community. And we appreciate him coming.”
Those interested in more information about attending the breakfast or playing in the tournament can call Williams at (705) 238-9766.
As in previous years, following the breakfast, Williams will lead an informal interview with Leach, who will discuss his hockey playing days and life.
“He always makes sure there’s time for people to take pictures with him and to ask questions,” Williams said.
Williams added Leach will also be impressive once he’s out on the course.
“He’s actually a pretty good golfer,” he said. “He hits a good ball for somebody who is [68].”
Leach though said he is just an “average” golfer, but he joked there is a way for him to easily improve his golf game.
“We’ll have to find holes that are a little bit bigger and fairways that are a little bit shorter,” he said.
Organizers are hoping this year’s breakfast and golf tournament will be a record-breaking one in terms of funds raised.
“We hope to get up to between $20,000 to $25,000,” Williams said. “That’s the goal.”
Williams added the amount raised has increased each year since the tournament began. The 2017 event raised $15,000.
Chippewas of Rama First Nation traditionally sends six clubs to the Little NHL tourney. In recent years, all of the expenses for icing a half dozen clubs at the event can cost up to about $50,000.
Leach said there are several reasons why he keeps returning to this golf event.
“It’s a good tournament,” he said. “Ted is a really good friend and it’s for a good cause.”
Leach has also been a big booster of the annual Little NHL tournament.
“As adults and Elders, it’s important for us to keep the kids busy,” he said.