Stanley Cup makes an appearance at Elgin Country Club

Lord Stanley's Cup made an appearance at the Elgin Country Club for an exclusive viewing by members and guests Monday.

This event was part two of the club's golf outing held last week to raise money for the family of Clint Reif, the Chicago Blackhawks' assistant equipment manager who died last year.

Up to 800 country club members and their guests were expected to get their picture taken with the Cup, said Anton Hirsch, a St. Charles resident and a club member who helped organize the event.

The more than 150 people who participated in the golf tournament received first priority.

Additionally, while most attendees got to spend about 10 seconds with the Cup, Rick Coffey and his winning team from the golf tournament got 10 minutes to pose, touch and take pictures.

Seeing the Cup in person was a first for Coffey, a West Dundee resident and a club member. He and his teammates met through golf and are all big Blackhawks fans.

"So when we found out about the cause, it's absolutely worth it," he said.

Coffey's teammate, Frank Fernandes of West Chicago, also donated a signed Blackhawks jersey to the silent auction at the golf outing.

Donations to the cause means the world to Blackhawks Equipment Assistant D.J. Kogut, who organized the event to help Reif's four young children continue to stay involved in extracurricular activities.

"(Reif) was always someone I looked up to," Kogut said, noting that he knew Reif since he was a child. "We wanted to do something for his kids. They're all so heavily involved in other activities, but that's expensive. We wanted to help pay for some of their activities."

Last week's outing raised about $50,000, said James Capek, the country club's general manager.

"Our members are very willing to step up and support a good cause," he said.

Helping the Reif family was what made the fundraiser so special for longtime Blackhawks fan Michael McKay, an Elgin resident and club member.

Seeing the Cup for the first time? That's an added bonus.

"It's a legendary trophy that represents the entire history of the NHL," McKay said. "You never know when it'll be your last time to have that opportunity."