The sun was out, but the stars were still shining for the Homebase charity softball game on Friday June 24.
NHLers were on the field at Elks Stadium for the charity game benefiting the KGH Foundation, in support of the 鈥榃e see you鈥� campaign towards mental health.
Carey Price coached. Brent Seabrook, Brayden Schenn, Mike Smith and Shea Weber batted. In the end, everyone just had fun for a good cause.
Blake Comeau, one of the founders and an alumnus of the 麻豆精选 Rockets, said that all the players were 鈥渃homping at the bit鈥� to come back to play after two years off.
It showed 鈥� the line for autographs for players like Weber, Brayden and brother Luke, Brendan Gallagher, and retirees like Wade Redden and Jordin Tootoo was long.
Many were there to see Montreal Canadiens goaltender Price. Habs fan Brandy waited in line with a painting she painted herself for the chance to get a signature from #31.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a work in progress for quite a few months,鈥� said Brandy, who added that she and her husband are 鈥渂ig Habs fans鈥�.
Blake Comeau and Josh Gorges, both now retired from the NHL, host the tournament annually - though, due to the pandemic, this is the first Homebase since 2019.
鈥淚 felt like we had a really good thing going for a couple years,鈥� said Comeau. 鈥淯nfortunately COVID hit so we had to take a couple years off, but to see the support that we鈥檙e getting again this year, to get all the guys together and play some baseball for such a good cause and have some fun.鈥�
Is there any rivalry? Not really, says Comeau and Gorges.
鈥淎ll of the guys that come out here are friends,鈥� said Gorges. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e guys that are willing to come out, and support us and support the cause. I feel like we鈥檝e got a really good group of guys here, a really tight-knit family from the hockey world鈥s soon as we sent out some messages to get the guys involved none of them hesitated.鈥�
The event raised more than $242,000 in support of the 鈥榃e See You鈥� campaign with the 麻豆精选 General Hospital Foundation.
The funds raised will provide resources for community mental health care providers in order to help people who are struggling. The goal of the program is to build a sustainable, inclusive, and accessible mental health care system. For more information about the 鈥榃e See You鈥� campaign or Homebase 2022, please visit kghfoundation.com.
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@JakeC_16
Jake.courtepatte@kelownacapnews.com
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