Seeing a bunch of hockey players prowling the links in the summer is a Canadian tradition.
This time was different though. It was the Vernon Vipers’ Tee Off for KidSport tournament at The Rise Golf Club Sunday.
A number of Vipers, head coach/GM Jason Williamson and pro stars such as Leland Irving, Eric Godard and Jerred Smithson took part in the charity event along with 96 other golfers.
“The event is going great, the golf really isn’t,” joked Williamson. “We are out here having fun for a good cause.”
The Rise has raised more than $11,000 the past two years for different charities during the event.
Williamson shared the afternoon with a few family members and junior Viper billet Dexter Wheaton.
Vipers netminder Danny Todosychuk of Vernon was teeing up shots at The Rise as he gets his mind ready for training camp, which begins Friday morning.
“I’m just getting back on ice now, gearing up for camp. I took some time away from the game this summer because our season was so long,” said Todosychuk, who played the final period of Vernon’s last game, a 6-3 semifinal loss to the eventual champion Yorkton Terriers in the RBC Cup May 17.
Todosychuk recorded a 3.15 goals against average and a .902 save percentage while appearing in 50 games for the snakes last season.
A lefty on the ice, Todosychuk just finished a booming drive right-handed off the 13th tee box.
“The golfing has been good, we are a few under right now. I like to get out every once in a while. This course eats a lot of my balls,” said Todosychuk, whose foursome, which included his father, Randy, Kobe Grant and Tim Proctor, shot 63, eight shots behind the winners, good enough for sixth.
The quartet of Jordan Zacharuk, Gary Woitzik and Don and Ardene Howe won the tournament with a 55.
Eight-year-old Ryan Vest was in a group with his father Jeff, and finished third with a 59.
