Faith and a calling has led two NHL stars back to Winkler.

NHL veterans Eric Fehr and Justin Falk recently created the Falk Fehr Foundation to give back to local charities.

"It's been on the back of our minds for a couple of years," Falk said. "We felt a calling to start this up and get more involved in the community."

He said an old hockey adage states no one remembers how many goals you scored, but rather your character and quality as a teammate. "It's about how we can impact other people."

While the life of a professional hockey player can be turbulent, Falk said his faith has carried him through the many trades and long nights on the road.

"The hockey world isn't an easy world for a Christian athlete," Falk said, but notes he's been encouraged by the support and engagement with Hockey Ministries International.

"During the hockey season you're not able to get to church very often, let alone have a home church, so the fact you can get together with a group of believers on your hockey team and do devotionals is great."

Falk said his career has also allowed him to be a light wherever he finds himself. "It's probably why God has shipped me to many different teams ... I ask myself, 'How can I be a witness here?'"

During their summers off, for the past nine years Falk and Fehr have hosted the Winkler Pro Am golf tournament, raising money for Boundary Trails Health Centre. They've now renamed the event the Hockey Champions Charity Golf Tournament, the proceeds of which will benefit Central Station Community Centre and the Winkler Food Cupboard this year.

"The community has been very supportive in years past, and we just wanted to continue to grow year after year," Fehr said. "We love living in Winkler and being a part of it and we want to help out."

The tournament will take place June 21.

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