A major milestone was achieved by the Prince George Cougars and its alumni association this summer.
Thanks to those who participated in the eighth annual alumni charity golf tournament, the player auction, and silent auctions, the team was able to surpass half-a-million dollars in funds raised for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, setting the new bar at over $558,000.
Though it was short of an initial $80,000 fundraising mark, the 2019 event brought in exactly $75,068.73 to help the organization purchase a new Vivid Q Cardiac Ultrasound that will be used by anesthesiologists at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. (UHNBC).
Spirit of the North CEO Judy Neiser was given a big cheque from this year’s fundraiser prior to the start of the Cougars’ game on Saturday (Sept. 21) at centre ice.
Cougars alumni at this year’s tournament included part-owners Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, Nick Drazenovic, Chase Witala, Ty Edmonds, and 2019 grads Josh Curtis, Joel Lakusta, and Mike MacLean.
“It's always a nice opportunity to get the alumni together,” said Hamhuis in an interview with PrinceGeorgeMatters before teeing off on July 13. “We all share that special bond of being Prince George Cougars; we all have fond memories, especially myself. I have very good memories of my time playing junior hockey here and, you know, this community just supports the team and its players so well. As a player, when you come back up here, you feel embraced by the community and so this is a good opportunity for all of us to give back.”
The Prince George Golf and Curling Club played host to nearly 25 Prince George alumni, several local businesses, and community benefactors.
