Big weekend shaping up…

The weekend that Hockey Fest falls on is the unofficial start to Hockey Season. Speculation and off-beat features gradually evolve into team reports and training camp stories, and eventually the critical mass of hockey reporting will form as the 2014-15 season approaches. Are you going to Hockey Fest? Will you be in Glendale for rookie games next week? Frozen Fury? Or will your attention perk when the banner finally drops?

If the answer to those questions is I don’t know I DON’T KNOW, consider the events that will take place across several Beach Cities this weekend.

On Friday, Jim Fox will host the fourth annual Sunset Sip, a wine tasting and fundraiser for The Guidance Center, a Long Beach-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive mental health treatment to disadvantaged children and their families. Having attended Sunset Sip last year, and having seen firsthand the impact that generosity has on those who benefit from such services, I strongly recommend taking part in this event. It comes with wine; Bob Miller, Sean O’Donnell, Patrick O’Neal are scheduled to attend, amongst others. (buy tix)
Last year’s event raised over $70,000 | My LAK.com story on The Guidance Center

On Saturday morning, Daryl Evans will host the LA Kings 5k Run-Walk, with proceeds benefiting Hydrocephalus Association. Hydrocephalus is a medical condition in which excess fluid accumulates in brain cavities. There is no cure, though surgeries to insert (and maintain) cerebral shunts have drastically improved the quality of life of those affected. This is a subject that hits close to home with the Los Angeles Kings community, as Charlie Pope, the two-year-old son of Kings Director of Community Relations Jennifer Pope, was born with the condition. Helene Elliott of the LA Times wrote about Charlie earlier this week, as did Ellen Robinson of The Beach Reporter. Several Kings will be on hand in Redondo Beach Saturday morning to offer their support, including Jonathan Quick, Jarret Stoll, Alec Martinez, Dustin Brown, Jake Muzzin and Robyn Regehr. (register here)

Hydro

Sunday is Hockey Fest. It’s a sold out event, though you can still secure your attendance by purchasing a ticket to the game between Kings Alumni-Firefighters charity game (tix here), or to that evening’s Royal Feast at the Salt Creek Grille, in which Kings players and alumni will be present (tix here). Proceeds for the charity hockey game will benefit Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund, while all three events will benefit the Kings Care Foundation. If you’d like to speak to someone directly about the change in plans in the alumni game, call (888) KINGSLA, and you will be connected.

Weekends don’t usually extend from Friday to Monday, but hey, it’s almost hockey season, so let’s think of this as a holiday. The Kings are hosting their annual golf tournament this Monday at Pacific Palms Conference Resort in the City of Industry, a day-long event that begins with a breakfast, continues with a shotgun start, and ends later in the day with a cocktail reception, live and silent auction, and an awards ceremony. The deadline to register is tomorrow; click here to do so.

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