CALGARY, Alta. – Montreal Canadiens legends Yvan Cournoyer and Serge Savard will be the honourary chairmen when the Hockey Canada Foundation hosts its gala and celebrity golf tournament in Montreal on June 29.

The annual event brings together Hockey Canada’s gold medal IIHF championship teams and distinguished Team Canada alumni and raises funds for the Hockey Canada Foundation, which supports the growth of the game in Canada. Pierre Houde, voice of the Montreal Canadiens on RDS broadcasts, and Gord Miller, TSN’s play-by-play man, will be masters of ceremony.

This year’s gala, with the theme of “Salute to the Habs,” will honour many of the great athletes from the Montreal Canadiens who also suited up for Team Canada during their careers.

The Habs legends will be joined by members of Canada’s National Junior Team which won gold at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. The gala dinner will be held at the Bell Centre on June 29.

“The venue will come alive with an evening of recognition and memories, silent and live auctions and special guests,” say Barry Lorenzetti and Dan O’Neill, co-chairs of the Hockey Canada Foundation gala. “This is a great opportunity for people to get up close with hockey stars, both current players and the greats from the past.”

The event will also include a celebrity golf tournament at Summerlea Golf and Country Club, located just west of Montreal on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The tournament will be held on June 30, and each foursome will include a celebrity.

The Hockey Canada Foundation works closely with Hockey Canada to raise funds for the support of minor hockey programs. The HCF focuses on five areas of funding – skill development and qualified coaching, accessibility and diversity, health and wellness, athlete and alumni support, and next generation programming. The annual gala and celebrity golf tournament has so far raised in excess of $1.6 million. Seventy-five per cent of the funds raised this year will be used to support the building of hockey rinks in Quebec communities.

For more information on the 2009 HCF gala and golf tournament, including how to reserve your spot for what is sure to be a memorable weekend, call Noel Fader at (403) 777-4562 or send him an e-mail at [email protected].