HOCKEY PLAYING PGA PROS VS. DETROIT RED WINGS ALUMNI AT MSU’S MUNN ICE ARENA, FEB.18
Free Admission, Donations Accepted for Game to Benefit Veterans’ Charities
EAST LANSING – Golf Professionals of the Michigan Section PGA, Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association (DRWAA) and other former NHL players are dropping the puck while helping veterans.
For the second consecutive year it will be clearly demonstrated that golfers can play hockey and in the process contribute funding to charity groups that serve veterans of the armed forces.
The second Michigan PGA Red Wings Alumni Game is planned for Sunday, Feb. 18, at MSU’s Munn Ice Arena.
Spectators will be admitted for free, and they will have an opportunity to donate to the charity groups on game day.
The first game was played last February at the Belfor Training Center at Little Caesars Arena and contributed $85,000 to 3 different Military Charities. This year’s funds will also be presented to a trio of veteran’s service organizations that help Michigan veterans – PGA HOPE (Helping our Patriots Everywhere), Folds of Honor and Spike’s K9.
The 1 p.m. game with two 30-minute run-time periods will feature a team of Michigan PGA Professionals/hockey players taking on the Red Wings Alumni and friends.
Red Berenson, Mickey Redmond, Mike Knuble, Jiri Fischer, John Ogrodnick, Ed Mio, Danny DeKeyser, Kevin Miller, Jason Woolley and others are among those scheduled to appear for the Red Wings Alumni.
Also likely to suit up for the game and play with the Red Wings are former Spartan and NHL player Kip Miller, Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale, former University of Michigan and NHL standout Brendan Morrison, and former pro and international player Kraig Nienhuis, best known at MSU as the father of Spartan team captain Nash Nienhuis.
The PGA players and their honorary coaches for the game are raising a minimum of $500 each for the veterans’ groups and sponsorship opportunities for the event are available to purchase.
George Bowman, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston, is also the secretary for the DRWAA and is leading the partnership effort for the game once again. He will also mind the net as a goalie for the PGA and also help Ed Mio with netminder duties for the DRWAA.
“Hockey players love to play golf, and a lot of golfers love hockey, and this game will show you that some golf professionals made a successful transition from hockey to golf while helping veterans at the same time,” Bowman said. “We have a great group of people showing up to help out and it’s going to be a fun and rewarding day raising some well needed funds for our veterans.”
Former NHL player Dean Kolstad, the recent past president of the Michigan PGA Section and Director of Golf at Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort near Kalamazoo, will take to the ice. Some members of the PGA squad have collegiate, club, and even professional hockey experience like Brandon Scero (Salem Hills Golf Club), Brandon Archibald (MPGA) and Doug Kreis (Battle Creek CC).
Among the honorary coaches for the Michigan PGA Team will be Kevin Helm, executive director of the Michigan Section PGA, and John Lindert of Country Club of Lansing, the current president of the national PGA of America.
“The Red Wings are the stars on ice and they play for fun while helping groups raise money for charitable causes,” Bowman said. “The PGA players are also raising money in this effort and getting to fulfill a dream of playing hockey against some of the world’s finest professionals. It’s a win, win, win all the way around, especially for those of us who love hockey and doing things to help give back to those who served our country.”
TO SPONSOR AND HELP VETERANS: Contact George Bowman, PGA Professional and Secretary of the DRWAA at 248-343-2589. https://www.nhl.com/redwings/team/alumni-association
ABOUT PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere): The flagship military program of the PGA of America introduces golf to veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Golf Professionals across Michigan volunteer and the program is free for Veterans. Visit www.pgahope.com
ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR: Folds of Honor provides life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military as well as America’s first responders. On our watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families know they are not forgotten. Visit www.foldsofhonor.org
ABOUT SPIKESK9: Spikes K9 Fund was founded by James Hatch, a retired Special Warfare Operator. As a K9 handler on several deployments, James’ life was regularly spared by the work of K9s – one of the most memorable was Spike. Visit www.spikesk9fund.org
Learn more about the Michigan PGA at michiganpga.com.
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