HUNTINGTON, NY, September 28, 2023  –  Jim Johnson, Executive Director of the foundation set the tone for the evening when he reminded everyone in the room that they were only there due to a twist of fate (or faith).

He cited the unlikely way that Pat LaFontaine made his way to Long Island and the Islanders in 1983, and how he was introduced to teammate Lorne Henning’s babysitter – Marybeth Hoey – forty years ago. That established his roots on Long Island and led to every attendee being on hand to celebrate 20 years of “assists” at this annual event.

Johnson added that later this year, the Companions in Courage Foundation will provide comfort and COURAGE to our 1 millionth patient! That provoked a rousing standing ovation.

– SEPTEMBER 29: (Photo by Mike Stobe/2023 Mike Stobe)

LaFontaine took advantage of the opportunity to invite Pierre Turgeon to the event and honor him for his induction next month in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Turgeon played four years with the Islanders and retired as one of only 48 players to score 500 goals in his NHL career. In one of the biggest trades in NHL history, LaFontaine and Turgeon were traded for each other at the peak of their respective careers in 1991. LaFontaine presented Turgeon with an exclusive double magnum of his Pinot Line wine.

– SEPTEMBER 2023: (Photo by Mike Stobe)

Michigan artist Paul Madden created a one-of-a-kind commemorative original drawing featuring 11 of the greatest NHL Hall of Famers to ever attend the foundation’s Golf Classic. In addition to images of each of the celebrities, the piece featured original autographs from each. Represented in the piece were LaFontaine, Bobby Orr, Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Brendan Shanahan, Gilbert Perreault, Marcel Dionne and Cam Neely.  Auctioneer extraordinaire, Shawn Parr, help the price for the piece soar at a spirited post-event dinner.

The day was filled with poignant moments, including traditional tributes (at Amen Corner and at the post-event dinner) to CiC Foundation supporters who have passed in the last year. New additions this year were Flo Gries (mother of Cheryl Gries Brown), Carl Girolamo (father-in-law of Greg DeRosa and former Islander Gerry Hart. Remembered with love were Clark Gillies, Mike Bossy, Jean Potvin, Rod Gilbert, Guy Lafleur, and friends of the foundation that included Rusty McCormick, Terry Sheerin, Tony Trombino, Danny Brown, and John LaFontaine.

The highlight of the dinner was when “Super Jack” Foley – a 12-year-old born with half a heart – talked about his relationship with LaFontaine, the foundation, and his special family relationship with cardiologist and executive board member Dr. Sean Levchuck. He concluded his poignant remarks by inviting Bob Nystrom to join him in presenting the 2023 Clark Gillies Pioneer Award to his favorite cardiologist.

– SEPTEMBER 29: (Photo by Mike Stobe/2023 Mike Stobe)

Johnson provided a review of activities the foundation has participated in during the last year. He cited the delivery of 120 additional Chromebooks to patients in 30 hospitals, and 250 Stitches LaRoar dolls to patients in 20 hospitals. He talked about the foundation’s relationship with the Heisman Trust that brought USC superstar Caleb Williams to Kravis Children’s at Mount Sinai and across the Courage Network. He talked about how SMACNA had provided funding for technology donations made to several Long Island pediatric units. Finally, he announced that the first new Lion’s Den Room in five years will be opened in early 2024 at Yale New Haven Children’s.

LaFontaine welcomed former Islanders and teammates Bob Nystrom, Bryan Trottier, Butch Goring, Ed Westfall, Benoit Hogue, Pierre Turgeon and Randy Wood. The field of celebrities included former NBA star Wally Szczerbiak and his dad Walter Szczerbiak. Every participant received a copy of Trottier’s new book, “All Roads Home.” The Islanders legend provided a personal inscription and autograph in every book.

– SEPTEMBER 29: (Photo by Bruce Bennett)

Pat McCarthy posted the Men’s Individual Low Gross (4-under), while Paul Mazzola finished just two strokes back. Melissa Barbour of SMACNA took the Women’s Low Gross Award.

Tom Aboff, from the NFP Insurance foursome, won the Long Drive contest with a bomb on Hole #7, while Peter Ferrandino, Jr.  (8’ 10”) won the Closest-to-the-Pin contest on Hole #3. Austin Ryan of Northwestern Mutual won the “Nearest-to-the-Net” contest on #18.

The foursome from Unsung Siblings – that included Danny Ryan, Craig Hetherington, James Pace and Mike DelGiudice of “Big Shot” took the low gross team honors with a score of 62. They bested the runner-up team of The McAuley Family – Sean, Tim, Alec, Tony Giardina and Rob Walter by a single stroke.

Many golfers took advantage of the “Air Cannon” on Hole #15, sponsored by Scott Paternoster. The cannon would launch a tee shot about 350 yards on the par 5 hole and give every team a shot at eagle. Several golfers commented that the cannon should be an option on EVERY hole!

LaFontaine thanked the Franchise sponsors – Lombardi Design & Manufacturing, Hess Associates and One80 Intermediaries and Edward Hall Insurance. He also thanked the Major sponsors that included the Heagerty Family Foundation, Port View Leasing, Ferrandino & Sons Construction, Striano Electric, Delaney Contracting, the McAuley Family Foundation, Patti Spray Fireproofing, Simplifi Medical, Hilltop Securities, the Croatian-American Foundation, the Michael McCarthy Foundation, John Moran CPA, the Unsung Siblings Foundation, the Clark Gillies Foundation, SMACNA, Rob MacInnis, Bill Isenberg, Jerry Wood, Greg DeRosa, Steve Hoey, Scott Lohan, Tom Hildebrandt and Brad Johnson.

LaFontaine also thanked Steve Hess of Hess Associates for sponsoring the Cocktails and Dinner;  Jim Buzzetta of Mercedes of Huntington for sponsoring the Hole-in-One contest; John Cameron of Cameron Engineering for sponsoring the Brunch; Scott Paternoster of Chief Media for sponsoring the Driving Range and the Caddies; Jerry Wood for sponsoring the Texas Hold’em Tournament;  Rob MacInnis for sponsoring the Premium Cigars; and Fritz Masotta of Craftsmen Construction for sponsoring the Putting Green.

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For almost 40 years, Pat LaFontaine has been a resident of Suffolk County in New York. On Thursday, May 18, LaFontaine was inducted into the county’s Sports Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Eastwind in Wading River.

LaFontaine – born in St. Louis and raised in Michigan- had a 15-year NHL career in which he never left the state of New York. He started with the Islanders in 1983, later played in Buffalo and finished his career with the Rangers.  In 2017, LaFontaine was selected as one of the top-100 NHL players of all time. In 2003, he was elected into both the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Minnesota.

The hockey star was introduced by longtime News12 sports anchor Kevin Maher. He said, “Pat is a hall-of-famer in every sense of those words,” and cited LaFontaine’s commitment to the community through the Companions in Courage Foundation and his work at the NHL in creating the Declaration of Principles.

The hockey star spoke for all the inductees when he reflected on how sports is a steppingstone in life for many athletes. He advised, “Score all your goals early, because later in life, it’s all about the ‘assists.” He noted the attendance of local hockey legend and Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame member Buzzy Deschamps. He said the former Long Island Duck hockey star has done more to promote the game of hockey on Long Island than anyone he knows.

But LaFontaine saved his most touching remarks for the family of ALS pioneer Chris Pendergast. Noting that his son-in-law is suffering from “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” LaFontaine talked about what an inspiration the Pendergast family had been to his family. In 1993, Chris Pendergast was given the diagnosis that he would not survive three years. Twenty-eight years later, he finally succumbed to the disease, but not before raising millions of dollars for ALS Research.

Former Islanders teammates who have previously been elected to the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame include Clark Gillies and Gerry Hart. LaFontaine noted their recent passings and cited them, along with fellow Islanders alumni Ed Westfall, Bryan Trottier and Bob Nystrom for inspiring the then 19-year-old to get involved with community service when he joined the team. In addition to providing resources to the Child Life Services staff at every children’s hospital on Long Island, LaFontaine’s charity is now delivering resources to 150 (of the 220) children’s hospitals across North America. More than 60,000 pediatric patients stay connected to their family, classmates and heroes each year through (www.CiC16.org)

LaFontaine and his wife Marybeth raised their three children in the Huntington area. Even when he was traded to Buffalo and then the Rangers, the LaFontaines maintained a residence in Montauk.

Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame President Chris Vaccaro said of the hockey star, “Hockey legend and Huntington resident Pat LaFontaine knocked it out of the park with his speech about the power of community and sports. What a great addition he is to our Hall.”

The condolences of all of us at Companions in Courage Foundation go out to the family of original Islander Gerry Hart. The sturdy defenseman passed away on May 12^th at the age of 75. The native of Flin Flon put deep roots

into the Long Island community and helped grow the sport from the Islanders’ inception.

Hart was a long-time supporter of pediatric patients and was always ready to lend a helping hand, with his gentle demeanor or his participation in charity events. In addition to his loyal support of CiC Foundation, he also worked as hard for the Clark Gillies Foundation.

Gerry played most of his 730-game NHL career on Long Island, and later operated The Rinx in Hauppauge (now the Clark Gillies Arena) since 1992. He managed it into a profitable 24-hour ice facility – especially during winter months. In 1997, Hart was inducted to the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. Hart sold the ice rink in 2004.

The former defenseman then turned his attention to providing assists in his adopted home of Long Island. Gerry was a fixture at charitable events and for families in need. He supported the Gillies Foundation and participated in a host of charity events on behalf of Companions in Courage.

Burial services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to support children’s charities at https://www.CiC16.org; https://clarkgillies.org/; and https://www.unsungsiblingsfoundation.org