Despite several reports to the contrary, Matt Stajan confirmed the Calgary Flames will be participating in the team’s charity golf tournament this week.
Stajan confirms players in Calgary will attend charity tournament this week. #Flames — Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) September 11, 2012
Stajan confirms players in Calgary will attend charity tournament this week. #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) September 11, 2012
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Stajan, the team’s union representative, told Sportsnet 960 The Fan on Tuesday that there was a “mix-up” and that players who are not in New York for this week’s National Hockey League Players’ Association meetings will take part in the Flames Celebrity Charity Golf Classic.
The confusion began Monday when players informed the team that they wouldn’t be participating and Flames president Ken King issued a statement saying the team was, “disappointed but completely understand the uniqueness of the situation.”
“So when that came out, it was shocking,” Stajan said Tuesday afternoon. “We never had any intent of hurting a charity or not supporting a charity. We are 100 per cent behind the Flames Foundation and all the charities we work for, all the charities we work with.”
The Flames are expected to have 10 players in New York, including Stajan and captain Jarome Iginla.
“We think it’s important that we do have representation there. It’s just unfortunate we all can’t go,” Stajan said. “The goal was to have as many guys as possible at the meetings, because we do want hockey to start on time and that’s the most important issue right now. But the guys who can’t make it will be going to the golf tournament.
It remains unclear which Flames will be participating in the charity event.