Somewhere up above, the late Corey Griffin is smiling.

This weekend, numerous NHL Alumni and adult hockey players teamed up for a fundraiser in this year’s Corey Griffin NHL-Pro Am in partnership with the Boston Bruins Foundation held at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough. All proceeds from the event benefited Boston Children’s Hospital.

Griffin, who was on the board of the NHL Alumni, tragically passed away last summer after drowning in a harbor in Nantucket at the age of 27. His impact and goodwill were felt beyond his position with NHL greats.

In addition to his fundraising efforts, Griffin spent several years at Bain Capital and later became a Director of Strategic Initiatives at Risk Assistance Network + Exchange (or Rane) in New York City.

Griffin helped spearhead the ALS Ice Bucket awareness phenomenon last summer in honor of Pete Fretes. That put a cherry on how many people he touched during a life that was ended too soon.

“Corey was unbelievable,” Bruins Foundation Director Bob Sweeney said. “He was full of life and he lived life to the fullest.

“When his dad told me that I needed to get Corey involved [with the NHL Pro-Am], he was unbelievably correct, because Corey took this tournament to new heights.”

Where Griffin left off with his goodwill, his fellow friends, family and others picked up right where he left off.

Over $875,000 was raised for Boston Children’s Hospital during this weekend’s event. The team who fundraised the most money received the first pick during the Pro-Am Draft where team’s got to select from a pool of NHL legends and alumni, including Sweeney, Brian Leetch, Ray Bourque, Ken Hodge, Rick Middleton, Terry O’Reilly, Ken Linseman, Mike Mottau, Reggie Lemelin and the recently retired Hal Gill, just to name a few.

Ray Bourque, Bob Sweeney, Brian Leetch and several NHL Alumni participated in the Corey Griffin NHL Pro-Am this past weekend (photo credit: Tim Rosenthal)

“It’s been beyond our wildest dream [with] the amount of money they raised this year,” Sweeney said about the fundraising efforts. “It’s a tribute to Corey Griffin and his family. Everybody has rallied behind this cause and it’s been unbelievable.”

Griffin’s former co-workers at Bain Capital raised over $180,000 and earned the second pick where they selected Ray Bourque. The first pick belonged to Glenview Capital, which raised over $230,000 and selected Brian Leetch.

Other highlights from the Pro-Am Draft included a speech from Griffin’s family, awards for fundraisers and an award given to a Boston Children’s Hospital patient for courage and perseverance.

“The big thing about this is it’s about charity, and that’s what we strive to make sure it’s for a charity event,” said Hodge, who serves as a color commentator for both Boston College Hockey radio broadcasts and for NBCSN. “Obviously based on the events that happened last year, it’s a thrill to be a part of the culture of this event and anytime we can be here and any time we can help out, it’s an honor.”

“It’s pretty powerful when you see the people that talked up there and you see the Griffin family talk, it’s pretty powerful,” Bruins radio color guy Bob Beers added.

“That’s when you realize that it’s not always about hockey, but it’s about life. It’s about sacrifice and what they have to endure to go through everyday life. It’s special. I’d love to be able to work with the Bruins [in the playoffs], but I’m happy to be here.”

On and off the ice, Corey Griffin’s memory lives on.

“To have Corey’s name on it makes it that much more special,” said Mottau, a former Bruin, Devil and Islander who took part in his first Pro-Am event this weekend. “For me whatever I can do to give back is always a pleasure. The hockey community always comes together for certain reasons and events, and this is one of the events where you can see the best people out there.”

Ken Linseman poses with the NHL Alumni team after being selected during Friday’s Pro-Am Draft (photo credit: Tim Rosenthal)