Portland Pirates to Host First Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, July 12

Players, Staff from 1994 Calder Cup Championship Team to Take Part

Portland, Maine –  Portland Pirates COO Brad Church announced today that the Portland Pirates will host their First Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Dunegrass Golf Club, 65 Wild Dunes Way in Old Orchard Beach, on Saturday, July 12 at 8:00 a.m.  The event will raise money for Camp Sunshine.

“As the Portland Pirates return to the City of Portland and the Cumberland County Civic Center for the 2014-15 season, we want to make a visible impact on our community and the surrounding area,” Church said.  “This event will be a vehicle for us to give back in a fun and engaging way.”

“We have chosen Camp Sunshine as our charity for this year’s tournament because of the very special work they do for sick children and their families,” Church said.  “We could not be happier to partner with such a worthy group for our inaugural event.”

“Camp Sunshine is delighted and humbled to be the beneficiary of the Portland Pirates' Inaugural Golf
Tournament," said Anna Gould, Founder & Board Chair of Camp Sunshine. “It is because of groups like the Portland Pirates, raising funds, that allows us to do what we do free of cost to the families who need it."

Camp Sunshine, located on the shores of Sebago Lake in Casco, Maine, provides respite, support, joy, and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families through various stages of the child’s illness.  The year-round program is free to all families, and includes 24-hour on-site medical and psychological support.  Bereavement groups are also offered for families who have lost a child to illness.  Camp Sunshine is celebrating its 30th year in 2014.  For more information on Camp Sunshine and its programs, log onto campsunshine.org.

The tournament will be held as part of a 20-year reunion of the 1994 Calder Cup Championship team.  Many of the returning players, coaches, and staff will participate in the day’s events, which will include the golf tournament and a barbecue.

Pirates Alumni scheduled to take part include 1994 Calder Cup Champion players Kerry Clark, Kent Hulst, Chris Jensen, Kevin Kaminski, Olaf Kolzig, Chris Longo, Darren McAusland, Jeff Nelson, Todd Nelson, Mike Parson, Randy Pearce, and Michel Picard, as well the ’94 team’s trainer Kyle Rickett, and the Head Coach Barry Trotz, now the Head Coach of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals.  Other Pirates Alumni joining in the festivities will include Church, newly named Pirates Assistant Coach Trent Whitfield, Jim Mathieson, and former Maine Mariner player Frank Bathe.

“I’d like to thank Kent Hulst, Darren McAusland, and Kevin Kaminski for helping organize this reunion,” Church said.  “I’d also like thank the many alumni who will take part in our charity golf tournament for giving their time to this worthy cause.”

Each participating foursome will be paired with a celebrity player.  All golfers who participate will receive a commemorative polo shirt and a golf gift bag.  Additional prizes will be awarded to the golfer with the longest drive (men’s and women’s winner), the golfer who shoots closest to the pin, and each individual member of the team that finishes with the top two net and gross scores.

The tournament gets underway with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m.  The festivities also include a barbecue lunch for all participants at 2:00 p.m.

For more information, or to sign up for the First Annual Portland Pirates Charity Golf Tournament, log onto portlandpirates.com, or call 207-PIRATES.

The Portland Pirates are returning to the Cumberland County Civic Center in 2014-15!  Opening night is Saturday, October 11!  Ticket packages include Full-Season, Half-Season, the Weekend Pack, the Rivalry Pack, and the Six-Pack Pick ‘Em, and all are on sale now.  For more information on tickets packages, or to purchase, call 207-PIRATES or go online to portlandpirates.com.