St. Louis Blues 14 Fund Golf Classic

Blues season ticket holders, sponsors, and supporters gathered Monday, September 14, 2015 at Norwood Hills Country Club to play in the St. Louis Blues 14 Fund Golf Classic. The participants hit the links with Blues players, alumni, broadcasters, and management, enjoying 18 holes of golf with the team just before it opened the preseason camp for the upcoming season. A reception and an awards ceremony concluded the day. The annual event benefits the St. Louis Blues 14 Fund.

The 2015 Classic again began with a brunch. Foursomes cost $2,514 and included one Blues celebrity as the fifth player. Golfers received a Blues gift package and an awards reception and auction hosted by Blues broadcasters John Kelly, Darren Pang and Chris Kerber. Blues chairman/governor Tom Stillman and president of hockey operations and GM/alternate governor Doug Armstrong led a roster of active Blues players and alumni like Bruce Affleck, Bob Plager, Terry Yake, Kelly Chase, and hall of famers Bernie Federko and Brett Hull. Blues players included David Backes, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jaden Schwartz, Magnus Paajarvi, Alex Steen, and Jake Allen. Since the preseason had not commenced, many of the minor league or junior players also participated. Blues television broadcaster John Kelly, television play-by-play, director of broadcasting/radio play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber, television commentator Darren Pang plus other members of the Fox Sports Midwest team and media representatives rounded out the celebrity lineup.

The splendid day of golf helped the players feel a charge from the outing. Goalie Jack Allen commented,“It’s nice to get a day off, swing the sticks a little bit and have some fun”, knowing the focus of a new season awaits them tomorrow. Added Fox Sports Midwest analyst Daren Pang, “It’s always fun to get out on the golf course for the 14 Fund. You learn an awful lot about what it’s like to be a Blue, to be a fan of the Blues. Everybody that’s here, they’re hockey fans, but they know what this is all about.” He continued,“I’m pretty proud to be part of an organization that still talks about Doug. It’s a great day, and people (really) get involved in it. Guys are having a lot of fun, and so am I.”

If any golfer missed brunch, no worries. Several food stops along the course featured food catered by Ricardo’s, J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood, and other fine area restaurants.

The St. Louis Blues 14 Fund, the charitable trust of the St. Louis Blues, has a mission to affect positively programs and services that improve the health and wellness of youth in the St. Louis area. The trust focuses on four areas of giving, which encompass cancer care and awareness, health and wellness, education and youth hockey development. Created in 1998 to honor former Blues player Doug Wickenheiser, #14, who passed away after a long battle with cancer, the Blues 14 Fund has contributed more than $3 million to the St. Louis community since its inception.