The Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation’s annual charity golf classic is going big league.
This year’s 19th tournament marks the beginning of a new three-year partnership with NHLer Ryan Johansen and his brother, Lucas, a prospect in the Washington Capitals’ system.
The Ryan and Lucas Johansen Charity Golf Classic will be held July 10 at the Swaneset Golf and Country Club in Pitt Meadows.
“The boys grew up playing hockey and all sorts of sports in this community so we relied on the important services that Eagle Ridge Hospital provides throughout their younger years,” said the Johansen’s father, Randall.
After playing much of his minor hockey in Port Moody, Ryan Johansen played a season in the BC Hockey League with the Penticton Vees and then moved on to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. He was drafted fourth overall in the 2010 NHL entry draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets and he’s currently playing for the Nashville Predators after he was traded in January, 2016.
While the Predators made it to last year’s Stanley Cup final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Johansen missed most of the excitement after he was injured in the Western Conference final against the Anaheim Ducks and had to have emergency surgery. During the off-season he signed an eight-year, $64-million contract with Nashville, the largest in the team’s history.
The centreman has five goals and 23 assists in 44 games so far this season.
Lucas Johansen is five years younger than his brother, and a defenceman.
He played his junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL and then was drafted 28th overall by the Capitals in the 2016 NHL entry draft. He’s got five goals and 11 assists for the team’s minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
Charlene Giovannetti-King, the executive director of the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, said having the local star players lend their names to the golf tournament will elevate the event that is expected to attract 250 golfers to Swaneset’s two courses.
“We are excited about this new chapter for our charity golf classic and partnership with the Johansen brothers,” Giovannetti-King said, adding entrants will likely get the chance to golf with NHL players as well as boost the event’s sponsorship and prizes.
Over the years, the tournament has raised more than $2.5 million for programs and equipment at Eagle Ridge Hospital.
Registration, which opens in March, is $275 per golfer and includes a morning patio party, food and beverages on the course, contests, activities and a dinner reception. For more information, contact info@erhf.ca.
