NHL players tee off for charity game at Clovelly

Professional hockey players were in St. John's this week to participate in the annual Clowe Purcell and Friends Golf Classic at Clovelly Golf Club on Thursday.

Ryan Clowe and Teddy Purcell, both NHL players from Newfoundland and Labrador, hosted the game to raise money for charities to help youth.

Clowe said over the last five years, the tournament has helped raise more than $500,000.

"It gives a chance for underprivileged kids who can't participate not only in sports, but any leisure activity. It's a chance to get out, get involved, and that's what it's all about," he said.

"When I started this, I wanted something where the kids can benefit from, and over $500,000 in five years is incredible, so we'll try to get to 10 years."

Clowe said the event is a way for him to remember his own experience in getting into the NHL, and remind him just where he came from.

Ready for the season

Clowe will be making a return to regular season play in the fall with the New Jersey Devils after being out last season due to concussions.

"I've taken the correct amount of time, I hope, to get better and recover and get myself right, and I've actually started to skate a little bit and ramp up the training a bit," he said.

"You just cross your fingers and hope everything works out, and I think I'll be ready to go come training camp."

Clowe said he feels better now than he did last summer, and thinks he may have tried to rush back into the game.

"It's something that you never really know at times if it was concussion or whether it was just from playing games. I think as far as getting over it, it's just a matter of, you don't want to rush yourself, and that's the one thing I might have [done]," said Clowe.

"It's just natural for hockey players to try to get back quick, so I really committed myself to taking time and making sure to get the right amount of rest this time. I think I have, and that's all you can do."