Hockey Canada, in partnership with Canucks Sports and Entertainment, announced that Vancouver will play host to the 11th annual Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic on June 23-24, 2014.
The foundation’s annual gala and golf tournament will celebrate hockey heritage and the on-ice accomplishments of Hockey Canada’s national teams that win gold medals at IIHF world championships and the Olympic Winter Games during the 2013-14 season.
The 2014 gala, which includes unique silent and live auctions, will be held Monday, June 23 at Rogers Arena, home of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, B.C., will play host to the celebrity golf tournament on Tuesday, June 24. Each foursome will include a celebrity.
“We could not be more excited to bring the Hockey Canada Foundation gala and golf tournament to Vancouver for the first time,” said Bob Nicholson, president and CEO of Hockey Canada. “It’s going to be a tremendous few days, celebrating our successes on the international stage and raising funds for minor hockey across the country.”
Hockey Canada and the Hockey Canada Foundation also announced that George Melville, chairman and co-owner of Boston Pizza International, will chair the event host committee, with Stan Smyl serving as honorary chair for the event, in recognition of his impact on the game and on the Vancouver hockey community.
“There are few in hockey in Vancouver who command respect like Stan,” said Chris Bright, executive director of the Hockey Canada Foundation. “Not just what he has done on the ice, but what he means to the community, and the passion he has for the game and the city, makes him an ideal representative for the Hockey Canada Foundation, and for this event.”
Funds raised from the 2014 gala and golf tournament will go to Hockey Canada Foundation initiatives that support accessibility to the game, from grassroots hockey to Olympics teams, as well as to legacy programming in the Vancouver area, similar to what has been done in past host cities.
The Hockey Canada Foundation works closely with Hockey Canada to raise money to support minor hockey programs.
The foundation focuses on three areas of funding: accessibility, diversity, health and wellness; skill development; and hockey heritage.
The Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic will be held for the first time in Vancouver. Toronto (2004, 2005, 2006, 2012), Calgary (2007, 2008, 2012), Montreal (2009), Edmonton (2010) and Ottawa (2011) have also played host to the Celebrity Classic, which has raised more than $5 million in its first 10 years.
For more information on the Hockey Canada Foundation, Hockey Canada and any of the programs, please visit the following sites or links.
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/
www.facebook.com/hockeycanada
www.twitter.com/hockeycanada.
