2024 Golf Tournament: September 20th. Check out the Tournament page!
The SG3 Foundation was created after the tragic loss of Sam Gottfredsen, a West St. Paul hockey player, coach and enthusiast. The Foundation seeks to carry on that passion by awarding scholarships to both youth and junior hockey players as a legacy to Sam’s life.
There wasn’t an area rink or pond that Sam’s blades hadn’t touched; when he wasn’t skating he was thinking about the next season, the next game, the next chance to be on that line.
With the heart of a defenseman – Sam was his teammate’s biggest advocate and staunchest defender. The minutes in the penalty box - a witness to his dedication.
He loved the game and the culture of hockey. He never minded early morning skates as a young player or long bus rides playing juniors. But, mostly – he loved the guys he played with and coached – the beauties. The ones he wanted to give back to; the ones he would do anything for.
Sam was one of the lucky ones – he played beyond high school. Like most hockey players – he dreamt of professional hockey but, in turn, found it wouldn’t be his reality (not that it was ever for a lack of trying). Never one to be down for long – he parlayed his passion into coaching those who had the same dreams he long-pursued. In the end, coaching became the role he felt he could give back – the role he truly felt like he was “one of the lucky ones.”
Through the pain our loss, we realized Sam’s dreams didn’t have to die with him. Not long before he died, Sam told his brother, “When I have enough money – I will pay for kids who want to go to hockey camp but can’t afford it.” Sam’s dream to give youth hockey players opportunities, along with supporting young men that want to pursue their dreams playing junior hockey – would become his legacy.