Fun on the Fairways at the Rangers Charity Golf Tournament
Wandering the rough in search of an errant shot, Franky Palazzese was hard to miss. Ever the sharp dresser, the Rangers’ netminder stood apart from the grass in a brightly coloured shirt. His golf ball, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found. He’ll admit he’s much better at tracking pucks than tee shots.
“I’ve lost three balls already today,” he chuckled. “And we’ve only played four holes!”
Palazzese wasn’t the only one encountering some tough times on the course. A busy summer that included being selected 13th Overall in the NHL Entry Draft left little time for Radek Faksa to hit the driving range. After his round, Rangers’ Rookie of the Year compared himself to the film Happy Gilmore, even taking to Twitter to post a picture of the classic Adam Sandler character.
Luckily, fun was the name of the game as Rangers players, past and present, joined staff and supporters at Whistle Bear Golf Club on Tuesday for the Annual Rangers’ 12th Annual Golf Classic, in support of the HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre. Widely considered the kick-off of the team’s season, spirits were high from the moment the golfers arrived, as teammates reunited and friends took to the practice green to warm-up.
As one of the newest additions to the Rangers’ roster, Matt Puempel seemed to be enjoying the buzz as he attended his first community event since joining the team in an off-season trade. He did admit that he’s not much of a golfer, but he was all smiles as his fellow golfers welcomed him to Kitchener. And while he was new to the tournament, there were plenty of familiar faces around, including former captain Gabriel Landeskog. The Calder Trophy winner was forced to detour into the pro shop when he arrived, having accidentally left his golf shoes behind in his native Sweden, but once he looked the part he was ready to enjoy the weather.
“We only had six sunny days this summer!” laughed the Avalanche forward. “I am looking forward to getting out there on a nice day!”
The Rangers’ current roster was looking forward to a day of sunshine, too, before heading into the rink for training camp, which opens in earnest on Wednesday. But even out on the links, hockey wasn’t far from their minds as many practiced their short game with a putter that looked suspiciously like a hockey stick.
It was a day filled with laughs and sportsmanship, with the proceeds going to a great local cause. Thank you to everyone who came out to support the 12th Annual Rangers Golf Classic. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
