Fife Flyers star takes on 24-hour charity golf challenge

The forward is teaming up with his friend Craig Peacock from fellow EIHL side Braehead Clan to take ob a 24-hour golf challenge in aid of Cancer Research UK.

McKenzie says the pair hope to raise money – and awareness – for a charity which is perhaps being overlooked during the global pandemic.

“It just popped up on my Facebook page during lockdown and I asked Craig if he fancied it,” he said.

“It said that the challenge was to play four rounds in 48 hours, but I said to him that we should do it in 24 hours, just to make it a bit more challenging, and he said why not?

“With ice hockey we both have a bit of a platform that we can use right now to try and raise money for a cause which we both think has been put to the background just now because of Covid-19.

“So we hope to try and raise as much money as we can.

“It won’t be a life-changing amount for anybody I don’t think, but any amount can help, and I hope we can raise a bit of awareness that charities like this are still out there”.

The challenge takes place this Friday at Rouken Glen Golf Club in Glasgow and the pair hope to reach £1000 and, if so, Bari has promised to “swallow my pride!” and wear a Celtic top with Craig in turn donning one belonging to Fife Flyers.

“It’s quite a hilly course so it’s going to be a challenge physically and mentally,” Bari says, “but it’s something to do and I’m looking forward to it.

“I think we are going to both enjoy it.”

Away from the green and back on the ice Bari says he was delighted to sign up for another season with the Flyers.

“It was a no-brainer to sign up, but obviously with everything that’s going on things are still up in the air.

“You look around the league and you see good players leaving who would normally not have done so.

“Fans are starting to ask questions now.

“I think something now needs to be set in stone, either we’re going to give it a try or we’re going to give this season a miss.

“It’s not a great situation but we’re all just trying to stay positive.”

You can make a donation to the cause online at fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/the-rivals.