By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Hockey celebrities hit the links in Red Deer for the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre

Aug 8, 2018 | 3:13 PM

It was a who’s who of Alberta hockey at the Battle of Alberta golf tournament in support of the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre on Wednesday.

The two-day event raised $600,000 ahead of the tournament and a hot stove and live auction event in the evening at the Sheraton.

More than half of that was through the 24 teams bidding on celebrity golf partners.

One such celebrity was Hockey Hall of Famer and former Calgary Flame Lanny McDonald who praised the work of two others who wore the flaming ‘C.’

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“First of all, we all have a responsibility to support this and when you see what Sheldon Kennedy and Theo Fleury have done making a difference in young peoples’ lives, or everyone’s lives, why should you not? We have to,” said McDonald, who spends most of his time doing speaking engagements, promoting youth hockey with Scotiabank, or working as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“What a great format too; we have a little bit of fun with the Oilers and Flames thing, but we don’t care who wins. We just care that we’re raising great money for the centre.”

Fellow ex-Flame and tough guy Brian McGrattan, who spent parts of three seasons (2012-15) in Calgary, also heaped praise on the event and where the funds are headed.

“It’s an amazing cause. Being in Calgary and seeing the work Sheldon has done in our city and to get something like that going here is so important,” said McGrattan, who now works in the Flames player development office. “It’s amazing to see the turnout of former and current players to come out and support this cause. It’s something that every community needs.”

The Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre recently launched an $8 million capital campaign with plans to build a new centre at Red Deer College.

“The support from central Alberta has been outstanding,” said Terry Loewen, CEO of the Child Advocacy Centre. “Not many times you start a charity and everybody’s phoning you, and it’s got a lot to do with the way Sheldon Kennedy has held himself and the leader he’s been when it comes to child advocacy, not only in Alberta, but in Canada and the world.”

Kennedy has spoken to both US Congress and British Parliament.

A great deal of more funds is expected to be raised at Wednesday night’s hot stove and live auction event.

More information is at centralalbertacac.ca.