National Hockey League great Reggie Leach returned to his hometown of Riverton last week to present various community organizations with a share of the $83,000 that was raised through his annual Reggie Leach Golf Classic, which was held in July.
The retired winger, who’s affectionately known as the Riverton Rifle, raises money each year to help support social and economic development and community services.
Leach’s wife Dawn Madahbee Leach said Reggie loves helping his hometown. They used to raise money for minor hockey before branching out to help fund other Riverton organizations.
“We realized there were quite a few other organizations in town that could benefit from some help so we started hosting golf tournaments,” said Madahbee Leach, an Indigenous business leader who earned an Indspire Award in 2020 for helping further Indigenous economic development. “Reggie really loves helping out his hometown.”
Reggie Leach, who’s a member of Berens River First Nation, was one of most prolific goal-scorers in the NHL in the 1970s, winning the Stanley Cup with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1975. He played for over a decade with teams including the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings. He was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and received the Order of Manitoba and Order of Canada.
This year’s golf tournament raised $83,000 and the proceeds will be split among a number of Riverton organizations.
“We gave one quarter [$20,750] to the Riverton Fire Department, one quarter to Riverton Minor Hockey and one quarter to the Riverton Arena,” said Madahbee Leach. “We also have a general account from which we can assist other Riverton organizations with the remaining $20,750. For example, we just ordered a new pool table for the Riverton Seniors Centre and there are some other causes we’re donating to. We receive lots of requests for assistance. Every penny goes back to Riverton organizations.”
Last year the tournament funded the Manitoba Veterans monument in Riverton, said Madahbee Leach, and provided funding for children’s dance classes, among other community supports.
For more information about the Reggie Leach Golf Tournament, visit its Facebook page.
