The Calgary Flames traded hockey sticks for golf clubs on Thursday. Despite the rain, the team took part in the 45th annual Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic at Cottonwood and Country Hills golf courses. More than 400 players, staff, alumni, local celebrities and supporters participated. Rookie camp begins Friday, and head coach Ryan Huska says players will have limited time to make an impression before the season begins. “For people trying to steal jobs, the exhibition games are going to be important. So we have, with the new rule, if you played over 100 games in the NHL, you can only play two [exhibition] games,” Huska said. “So that’s going to open up some opportunities for other guys to get two games as well, and those are going to be situations where you want to make sure that you really can show that you’re ready.” The golf classic raises money for the Flames Foundation which has invested more than $70 million in community programs since 1980.
