THUNDER BAY – With Robert Bortuzzo in goal, it was clear the Fountain Tire Summer Hockey Classic score didn’t really matter.
Normally a bruising defenceman for the St. Louis Blues, Bortuzzo on Monday volunteered to don the pads and stare down the likes of Jordan Staal, Trevor Letowski and Patrick Sharp, all in the name of a good cause to kick off the festivities on Day 1 of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada’s Staal Foundation Open.
Bortuzzo was victimized seven times in a 7-2 Team Green loss to Team White, but no one was really counting.
“I thought he’d be better,” said former teammate and newly signed Buffalo Sabres goaltender Carter Hutton, who decided to play forward for the event.
“Because all he really does in the season is block shots for me. But he was great. We didn’t have a goalie and he was the first guy to jump up and have some fun. I think (he’s) one of those guys when he sees those young kids coming he makes sure the five-hole is open to make sure they get a goal. What a fun event.”
Sharp, who recently announced his retirement from the Chicago Blackhawks, also found the back of the net for Team White, and said he was more than happy to spend the day playing road hockey and in the celebrity pro-am taking place on Monday afternoon.
“To support a family like the Staals is a no-brainer. They’ve done so much for the City of Thunder Bay and they’ve represented us well at different levels of hockey,” said Sharp, who walks away from the game with three Stanley Cup titles and one Olympic gold medal under his belt.
“It’s fun to be back. It’s great people here and I’m having a good time.”
Eric Staal, whose family foundation is the title sponsor of the tournament, called the tournament and all of its associated fundraisers is a great way to give back to the community.
“The fact that it’s been embraced over the last number of years and that we’re inching up to a million dollars raised and given back to local charities is phenomenal,” the Minnesota Wild forward said.
“That definitely is the main focus and impactful thing we’re glad we’re a part of – and it’s fun. It’s always a fun event. You get to catch up with people you don’t see all the time and it’s well run. People do a phenomenal job and put a lot of effort into it.”
Once again NHL legend Bobby Orr was at the helm of Team White, leading them to yet another victory in the third annual road hockey game.
While he doesn’t do a lot of events, Thunder Bay and the Staal family have always had a soft spot in his heart.
“The work that the Staal family does here, the work that the volunteers do, this is an unbelievable event,” Orr said.
“This is something else. I’ve never seen anything like this. They work hard.”
Of course, the day was all about the kids, and eight-year-old Vito Minnella was one of the stars, scoring on a penalty shot.
It felt pretty good, said the youngster, whose been waiting a long time to suit up alongside his hero Eric Staal.
“I’ve been waiting to turn eight to play with the Staals and I’ve always really wanted to play with them,” he said, after raising $1,700 to earn his way on to the roster.
The golf begins on Thursday at Whitewater Golf Club.
