THUNDER BAY -- Carter Hutton knows one thing for certain – he has every intention of returning next year as host of the Hometown Heroes golf tournament in support of the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre.
And who can blame the St. Louis Blues goaltender?
Hutton, who took over tournament hosting duties from fellow NHLer Patrick Sharp this summer, helped raise $108,300 in his inaugural effort.
That’s just spectacular, said Hutton, stunned at the amount raised at the Fort William Country Club event.
“It almost gives you chills a bit, especially after yesterday and seeing all the kids’ lives that it touches and just knowing it’s going to good use. The support today was awesome,” Hutton said.
“I was part of it last year, but now being the host and having so much more connection with everything, it’s just so much more involvement, it’s amazing.”
Hutton brought along a couple of high-profile friends to the event, new teammate Robert Bortuzzo, who played alongside him with the Fort William North Stars in 2006, and Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Their help, plus the heavy involvement of his family and friends, made it that much more special an occasion, Hutton said, also thanking the sponsors and organizers for making it happen.
“It’s definitely something we want to be a part of, something my family and friends hold dearly. I have a lot of close friends here today, and a lot of family, and it meant something to them,” Hutton said.
It was a bittersweet day for George Jeffrey Children’s foundation executive director Mary Anne Comuzzi. On the one hand, she was thrilled at the amount raised.
But, having announced her pending retirement earlier this year, it was a bit tearful knowing she won’t be at the helm in 2017.
“The $108,300 is phenomenal. I can’t even imagine how far that’s going to go to help at the centre, with the number of kids we have on the waiting list. To do this in our first go-around with the Hometown Heroes (name), we’re indebted to our sponsors and to Carter,” she said.
“I’m speechless.”
The George Jeffrey Children’s Centre helps children with physical and mental disabilities help overcome the challenges facing them.
