NHLers hit the links in Muskoka for a good cause

Morgan Rielly and teammates golf for Special Olympics Players with the Toronto Maple Leafs were among 100 golfers in Muskoka to support Motionball for Special Olympics.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly brought teammates Ryan Reaves and Jake McCabe to Gravenhurst on Wednesday to support Motionball for Special Olympics.

Reilly hosted the Motionball Forty Fore Fall Classic at Taboo Muskoka Golf Course.

"We're happy to be back here for year two. Being up here last year and having the chance to raise some money for a cause that's important to me and important to a lot of people. It's a cool opportunity," Rielly said.

The NHLers are among 100 golfers raising money to inspire Special Olympians like Ruby Lappin, who had the opportunity to play the game she loves while meeting her hockey hero.

"I met Morgan Rielly. I am a huge fan, and he's a great hockey player," Lappin said.

The Newmarket woman has been golfing for 20 years and said Motionball supports her and gives Special Olympians the chance to grow as athletes and ambassadors in sport.

"There are 50,000 Special Olympic athletes in Canada, and our objective is to introduce more Canadians to the Special Olympic movement through integrated social and sporting events like today. So it means having some fun.

We're going to have some cocktails, we are going to play some golf, we're going to network and socialize, but we're going to also raise significant funds and awareness for this very worthy cause," said Motionball chairman and co-founder Paul Etherington.

The event featured teams showing off their personalities, including McDonald's Kingston franchise owner Todd Shea and his team, the Hamburglars, who brought some light-hearted fun to the tournament.

"To give back to others that are in need that maybe don't celebrate appropriately sometimes it makes you feel great to be part of this," Shea said.

Rielly said he appreciated the enthusiasm.

"We're lucky that the guys have bought in, and you know we're going to go out there and try to have some fun, and hopefully, these guys that are dressed up like the Hamburglar can play well," he chuckled.

The Leafs caught up with old friends and made new ones on the course while Lappin thought of the ice and the NHL team's 58-year Stanley Cup curse.

"I want them to win. Let's go Toronto Maple Leafs!" she stated.

Organizers said last year's fall classic raised $120,000 for Special Olympics. This year, the golfers are eager to surpass that total.