Tourney a success

Patrick Sharp says all it took was a single visit to the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre in 2010 to know he wanted to be closely involved with the organization.

Sharp, who returned last week with the Stanley Cup, on Thursday hosted his second annual charity golf tournament benefiting the centre, raising more than $115,000 for the cause.

With this type of success, there’s no reason it can’t get bigger and better Sharp said.

“It was great. We couldn’t ask for a better day weather wise and everyone showed up and had a great time,” Sharp said, after carding a 10-under par round with a team that included his brother Chris and NHL Hall-of-Famer Doug Gilmour – who chipped in for eagle to help out the team.

The tournament sold out in March, another indication of what the public thinks of the centre, which helps physically and mentally challenged youngsters lead as normal a life as possible.

“I have the easy job. I just show up for the golfing and enjoying the day with everybody,” said Sharp, a father of one whose wife is expecting their second daughter in the fall.

“Mary-Ann Comuzzi and everyone at the George Jeffrey Centre and my parents, they do such a good job of promoting the event and the City of Thunder Bay responds. It’s amazing to see the support we get, not for myself as a player, but for the George Jeffrey Centre. I couldn’t be happier with this.”

Gilmour, who shares a financial adviser with Sharp, said he learned about the tournament through their mutual connection and decided it was an event he didn’t want to miss.

“I checked my schedule and it was perfect,” he said.