Nick Bonino is a hockey player who was born in Hartford. He’s not just any hockey player—the Avon Old Farms product won his second straight Stanley Cup as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins two weeks ago.
What’s he doing away from the ice in 82 degree weather? He’s participating in the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am—an annual event in Cromwell that pairs top golfers with local celebrities.
Well he was supposed to anyway.
“Couldn’t do it on the broken leg, but Travelers puts on such a great tournament,” Bonino said. “I’m always humbled to be a part of it and today just play the mini-golf tournament. That was a lot of fun.”
There is no timetable for his return to the ice, but Bonino joked that he’d be back on the golf course in five to six weeks. He wasn’t the only local sports star to receive a roar upon being introduced Wednesday. Three-time NCAA champion UConn coach Jim Calhoun played for what he said was his 24th time in 25 years.
“The great thing is you see people and it’s kind of a Connecticut homecoming outing,” Calhoun said. “It’s really a great day for Connecticut, I think.”
The Traveler’s Pro-Am traditionally takes place on the eve of the Travelers’ Championship proper. This year, 156 golfers will compete for a $1.2 million winner’s prize this weekend in Cromwell.