Jonathan Huberdeau has not been idle since the end of the season. After becoming Quebec’s leading scorer in the NHL since Mario Lemieux, he made a personal donation of $25,000 to the Cité de la Santé Foundation. Then, on Monday, the first edition of the Jonathan Huberdeau Golf Tournament took place, again for the benefit of the hospital which saved his mother twice.
Posted at 11:43 a.m.
The link is strong between the Huberdeau family and the Cité de la santé de Laval. His mother was followed there for two cancers, then the three members of the siblings were born there. It went without saying for the Florida Panthers forward that he had to get involved in a cause like this, now that he has a fairly significant notoriety.
The departures were sold out in just a few hours. The speed with which donors signed up even surprised the Huberdeau clan a little. Nearly 250 guests gathered at Le Mirage Golf Club, in Terrebonne, on the North Shore of Montreal.
“That day has finally arrived,” Huberdeau said midway through her photoshoot. Between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Jérômien posed with all the guests, without exception, and without respite.
“It filled up really quickly and the people are really generous. I’m happy,” he added.
Golf for the cause
As a Huberdeau never comes alone, the whole family came together to support Jonathan and the foundation. The eldest of the family, Sébastien, was happy to see his brother get involved and offer his time. He had a hellish season and he thinks it was time for his younger brother to take advantage of it, for the others.
“He’s been playing in the NHL for 10 years and we’ve never talked about him so much. I was surprised that there were so many people and in addition we had to limit registrations, otherwise we would have been too crowded, ”explained Sébastien Huberdeau.
Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends were present for the occasion. “For family and friends, it’s just fun. Jo is involved, we just chat and play golf, ”he said, joking.
In addition to family members and donors, some celebrities also made an appearance. Singer-songwriter Louis-Jean Cormier, a big fan of golf, joined the party.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Monday was the first edition of the Jonathan Huberdeau Golf Tournament, again for the benefit of the Cité de la Santé, which saved his mother twice.
“I combine the useful with the pleasant… mostly a lot of the pleasant to be honest,” he explained with a laugh.
He was accompanied by his son, a hockey player, but above all a big fan of Jonathan Huberdeau. “We really love hockey, so here we are a little impressed! »
The singer also has a special attachment to the Cité de la Santé, since it is there that his son was born, when he lived in Laval. “There were too many planets lined up to say no to the invitation.”
A work of monks
Huberdeau was delighted to see that the event had reached so many people. Along the road leading to the club, dozens of posters bearing the image of the tournament had been placed on each side.
“I often go to tournaments, but when it’s yours, it’s different,” said Jonathan Huberdeau. Usually I’m not the headliner. I do my own thing, but it’s cool to be involved. The organizing committee did a really good job. Everyone works really hard. I don’t do much except give my time and my name, but my goal was to make a difference, so good if it works. »
Beyond his popularity, the 29-year-old hockey player believes that the cause he sponsors de facto reaches a lot of people: “Everyone knows someone who has had cancer. So much the better if we can make a difference and contribute to the development of technologies to help people with cancer. »
Take advantage of his notoriety
Even though he finished second in NHL scoring last season and his success is talked about, Sébastien Huberdeau is proud that the public can discover more and more of his brother’s personality off the ice: “It’s starting to come out more and more. I’m happy that we talk more than him this year, it gives him more visibility. »
Louis-Jean Cormier was very proud to meet the pride of Saint-Jérôme, an important model for Quebec hockey: “He’s a great hockey player, everyone loves him. […]. It’s very impressive to see a guy like him work so well. We are not proud. »