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Hockey brothers hope to score big in Courtnall Classic

Three-day celebrity golf event is a fundraiser for mental health
Courtnall Classic
Geoff Courtnall

Russ Courtnall is no stranger to pressure, having played in the National Hockey League.

But his life has become a whirlwind of activity recently in the countdown to the third Courtnall Celebrity Classic fundraiser for mental health. The amount of time Russ and his brothers Geoff and Bruce have spent on the phone organizing the event is a sign the fundraiser is near and dear to their hearts.

“It’s because it’s so personal with us, because of what happened to us,” Russ said from his home in Los Angeles. “It’s not just a golf tournament and it’s just not a dinner, it’s more than that.

“With our dad committing suicide (in 1978), and being so young – I was 13 – unfortunately for us, it’s a big part of our lives, losing our father.”

Previous Classics in 2003 and 2004 combined to raise $2 million to establish the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Archie Courtnall Centre – named for their father – where people suffering mental health issues can receive emergency psychiatric care.

Since it opened, 20,000 people have been through the centre.

“I feel so good about it,” Russ said. “And some (who have received care there) are my friends, and some involved in the first two (fundraisers) have had family members go through (the centre).”

This time around, Russ and Geoff, both former NHLers, and Bruce are looking to contribute to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, which has a goal of raising $4 million to pay for mental health-care equipment and programs at the new RJH Patient Care Centre.

Thanks to the brothers’ passion and round-the-clock dedication, around 2,000 people will be in attendance at several events this weekend, including a gala dinner Friday night (July 22) and a golf tournament on Saturday (July 23).

Among the dozens of celebrities scheduled to attend include current NHLers Ryan O’Byrne of Victoria (Colorado Avalanche), Central Saanich’s Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars), Vancouver Canucks centre Manny Malhotra, and L.A. Kings defenceman Willie Mitchell.

Several actors are also coming, including Candace Cameron Bure from Full House and Make It Or Break It – she’ll be accompanying husband Valeri Bure, a retired NHL player – X-Men: First Class actor Matthew Craven, Bold and the Beautiful TV star Jennifer Finnigan, Gena Lee Nolin from The Price is Right and Baywatch, and film actor Deborah Unger from Silent Hill,  Thirteen and Crash.

emccracken@vicnews.com