Canadiens Gallagher to hit the diamond for softball benefit
Sure, Canadian baseball fans are pretty excited about Toronto's new shortstop, Troy Tulowitzki, but have you heard of that Brendan Gallagher guy making his debut in Vancouver?
“That’s probably where I’ll plug myself,” the Canadiens forward. “I’m the manager of the team, so I get to make those decisions.”
Gallagher is preparing for the Celebrity Softball Classic on Aug. 12. He, a few other NHL players and a slew of other entertainers will play to raise money for the Shriners Hospital for Children.
“The one thing about those of us playing is that everyone’s going to be there to have fun, but we’re going to want to win and everyone’s going to be competitive,” Gallagher said. “I’ll try to stack my team enough that I’m able to come away with a win. I’m sure there’ll be something on the line.”
But how will the forward-turned softball player play? Softball has always been a part of his family. His mother, Della, played softball growing up and his sister, Breanne, still plays it today.
“Obviously, hockey is what I was best at, so I stuck with it,” he said. “But I love baseball just as much. It’s kind of a cool opportunity for me and for all of us to get out there now to play something else, and it’s for a very good cause."
But don't think Gallagher is going to end up trading in his stick for a twig.
“Pursuing baseball would have been a bad decision,” Gallagher said.
(h/t Montreal Gazette)
