NHL hockey pros share cute, golf-nerd moment seconds before the puck dropped

Professional hockey players, when it comes to golf at least, are just like us. Just like you and me, talking about their next round of golf, even during one of the most important meetings of their job. Our evidence comes via a recent exchange between Drew Doughty and Clayton Keller. 

Doughty is a defenceman for the LA Kings and clearly a golf nerd. So much so that during a face-off Wednesday night, he looked across the ice and challenged his opponent to a golf match.

“What’s your handicap,” Doughty said to Clayton Keller, Phoenix Coyote’s forward. 

It helped, of course, that Doughty was mic’d up for the game. Keller’s responses weren’t loud enough to be recorded.

“Scratch?” Doughty said next. “Let’s play. I’m a seven.” 

Keller muttered something clever, which we can only assume was a question of Doughty’s true handicap. 

“No, seven,” he said, sternly. The puck was dropped and they were off. 

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From the looks of it, a genuine match was agreed upon. The only issue is, Keller is even better than a scratch, according to his current handicap. 

The 23-year-old is an absolute stick, playing out of Silverleaf in the Phoenix area. His current handicap index is listed at +2.4, though he only logged four scores in 2021. Perhaps he’s moved back down toward scratch due to rust. 

Here’s hoping Doughty can give him a run on the course. The Kings beat the Coyotes in consecutive games earlier this week.