Celebrity golf tournament to return

Mike Wehrstedt, like most people in Thunder Bay, has been touched by cancer.

The 29-year-old was playing in the Ontario Hockey League when he learned his mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Luckily she survived.

Wehrstedt, who went on to play five seasons with the Lakehead Thunderwolves and three seasons of professional hockey in Europe, said his early brush with the disease showed him the importance of tackling the disease head on.

Neither a doctor nor a researcher, he does so by giving back.

Each July he grabs his clubs and offers up his services as celebrity golfer at the Freedom 55 Financial Thunder Bay Hockey Celebrity Golf Classic, an event that in past years has drawn the likes of NHLers such as Jordan, Marc and Eric Staal, Mike Richards, Alex Auld, Taylor and Tom Pyatt and Patrick Sharp.

Wehrstedt, who said his golf game leaves plenty to be desired, nonetheless plans to be back at Whitewater Golf Course on July 12 to tee it up once again.

“It’s nice to use our talents off the ice and bring some attention to Northwestern Ontario and raise some funds for the Northern Cancer Research Foundation,” Wehrstedt said on Tuesday. “It’s always a good day when you can help a cause like that.”

With demands on everyone’s time, Wehrstedt it’s not easy for the NHLers to work events into their schedule, yet each and every summer they come out in droves to this particular tournament.

“The big celebrities, they’re so busy with their careers and other foundations they want to help out with, or the cities that they play in now. For them to come home and dedicate, it seems like only one day to people, but for them with their busy lifestyles, it just shows the true character that comes out of Northwestern Ontario.”

The popular event, which annually sells out in rapid order, has added an extra element in 2012, said tournament co-chairman Tom Mihaljevic.

Because there is only so much room for golfers, they’re including an online auction on their website, www.thunderbaycelebritygolf.ca.

“What we’re trying to do is reach out to the community, for those who are not interested in golf, or for whatever reason can’t make the event, this at least allows them the opportunity to bid on something that they can cherish, and hopefully win,” Mihaljevic said.

Though not finalized, he expects to have at least an autographed stick and NHL jersey up for grabs.

The tournament has raised more than $200,000 for the Northern Cancer Fund since its inception.