OSWEGO -- All of the NHL Players from Central New York seem to be on the move this off-season. Fulton's Rob Schremp had his team has move to Winnipeg, Baldwinsville's Tim Connolly signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Oswego's Eric Cole signed with the Montreal Canadiens. But on Monday for Schremp and Cole it was all about Central New York as they teed off in the The Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation Golf Classic at Oswego Country Club. The foundation is a non-profit organization that supports youth hockey programs, and children who are suffering from cancer and other diseases. The charity is getting more and more support as the years go by, and as Cole's golf event continues to gain popularity.
"We're consistently trying each and every year to sneak in another two or three teams it seems," says Cole, "but it's good. We've built up a bit of a waiting list and it means a lot the support from this community."
"I remember being a kid and I always had the Crunch aroErik Cole returns to Oswego to help community und, recalls Schremp, "I always looked up to them. It was always cool to go to an autograph signing, to have those guys take care of us and talk to us it was just the coolest thing in the world, so being able to be on the stage that we're on in the National Hockey League and having the following of hockey that there is around Central New York, it's great to come back here and team up and help in any way we can."
Monday's golf tournament capped off what was "The 2011 Erik Cole Dream Big Foundation Golf & Hockey Classic", a weekend that included an NHL Player Exhibition, a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, concerts and a 3-on-3 Youth Hockey Tournament. A busy event to plan, in what's been a busy overall off-season for Cole, on the move to Montreal and preparing to play for the Canadiens. Cole says he looks forward to playing in the hockey "fish bowl" that is the city of Montreal, where every move he makes will be under the microscope.
"It's the most storied franchise in NHL history," says Cole, "very close proximity to my hometown and also where I played college and a lot of the guys that I played with in College still live in that area and are tremendously excited for me. It's a building I've loved to play in for my entire career and I just can't wait to do it in a Habs jersey."
Click on the link to find out more about Erik Cole's foundation.
