THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The Staal Foundation Open, presented by Tbaytel is starting to unveil a growing list of hockey alumni who will be gracing the Whitewater Golf Club this summer. Hockey Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr will tee it up at this year’s Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel after accepting a sponsor’s exemption to play in the event.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to get an exemption into this event and can’t wait to tee it up this summer. I have a great deal of respect for the players I’ll be competing against and know the level of play on
PGA TOUR Canada is incredibly strong. I’ve been working hard on my game and look forward to seeing how I stack up against the competition this summer,” said Fuhr, who will also play in the Celebrity Pro-Am on the Monday of the week-long event.
Fuhr was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Over a
10-year period, Fuhr helped the Oilers to five Stanley Cup championships between 1984 and 1990. Dubbed the workhorse of the team, he earned his sole Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in 1984 and was runner-up to teammate Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player. Grant joined an elite club of goaltenders on October 22, 1999 as a Calgary Flame when he defeated the Florida Panthers to attain his 400th career win—only the sixth goalie in NHL history to reach that milestone.
Prior to the 2000-01 season, Grant Fuhr announced his retirement from professional hockey. Fittingly, in Fuhr’s first year of eligibility, he was selected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.
Currently, the 52-year-old Fuhr is the director of golf at Desert Dunes Golf Club in Palm Springs, California. Fuhr, an avid golfer, has competed previously in Web.com Tour events. In 2005, Fuhr emerged victorious in the Mercedes Trophy Golf World Final, bettering 69 other talented golfers. Grant has also spent time on the celebrity golf circuit for retired athletes.
Scott Smith, Executive Director of the Staal Foundation Open present by Tbaytel expressed his enthusiasm over the announcement, which comes on the heels of announcing that Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr would support the event in 2015: “To host both Bobby Orr and Grant Fuhr is exceptional. These two gentlemen are icons in the sport of hockey and are here to support the Staals in their efforts. Grant, of course, will also be competing in the actual event, so this adds another element of interest. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
“Having Grant Fuhr join us in Thunder Bay this summer to play in the Celebrity Pro-Am and the actual event is great news.” said Eric Staal. “Our family is extremely pleased to have Grant help in our efforts to raise funds for the Staal Family Foundation supporting children and families fighting cancer. We look forward to hosting Grant in Thunder Bay.”
