Barkov, Montour give back with charity golf tournaments

Aleksander Barkov continues to be a star off the ice as well as on it.
After donating $108,800 to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in South Florida through his #BarkovScores4JoeD Campaign during the 2021-22 season, the Florida Panthers captain grabbed his golf clubs and hit the links for another charitable endeavor this past weekend.
Helping raise more than $100,000 to provide sporting opportunities for underserved kids in his hometown of Tampere, Barkov teamed up once again with Blue Jackets sniper Patrik Laine to host the Laine & Barkov Charity Golf Tournament at Nokia River Golf in Finland on Saturday.

First held in 2019, the tournament has quickly become an offseason tradition.
"It's getting bigger all the time," Barkov said last summer. "The first time, we didn't really know if it would last. You just lived in the moment. Now, it's becoming a tradition, not just for us but for the people who come to it. It does good things for the community in Finland and helps people."

In addition to raising money through donations, an auction was held at the event that featured unique experiences -- including a hot air balloon adventure -- as well as autographed jerseys from other NHL superstars like Colorado's Mikko Rantanen and Toronto's Auston Matthews.
With the money raised, Barkov hopes to share the joy of competitive sports with local kids.
"It's to help people to play the sports they really like, but they're not able to afford it," Barkov said of his work with the organization Hope Tampere. "It's a really big thing here in Finland to help people play the sports they like. Not everyone can afford it, so that's why we're here trying to raise some money for that. We want to help fulfill their dreams and maybe even their goals for life. We're really enjoying that part."
Not the only Panther using golf to raise funds for a good cause this summer, defenseman Brandon Montour, like Barkov, co-hosted a charity tournament of his own alongside Ducks forward Adam Henrique at the MontHill Golf & Country Club in Caledonia, Ontario, on July 8.
"It went really well,"
Montour said during an interview with the NHLPA
. "We had 200-plus golfers. The MontHill Country Club allowed us to fit a few more bodies in for the tournament and there were probably close to 250 people for dinner.
"It's a rough estimate, but it looks like we were able to raise around $100,000 for some really great causes and organizations. Everyone really seemed to enjoy being there. We had a lot of great support from our sponsors and everyone who came out."
Founded in 2021, the Henrique Montour Golf Classic supports various charities such as The Arnold Anderson Sport Fund, which helps serve underprivileged kids in the Brantford area, located near the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Reverse where Montour grew up.

"The places we chose revolve around kids in sports, minor hockey, minor lacrosse, helping Six Nations through the police, who have a great program on the reserve," Montour said. "We're planning on looking at schools that need anything, maybe schools in Burford. It was about giving back to as many places as we could. With COVID, sports are now up and running again, and we want to see as many kids enjoying the opportunity to play the sports they love."
Keep up the good work, guys!
\Featured image courtesy of XBILSuomi*