Over the last few months, there’s been very little to be proud of in the No Hockey League, as the lockout is on day #65 and counting with no signs of ending anytime soon although perhaps another meeting tonight can bring some traction.  However, in one of the hardest-hit areas of Hurricane Sandy, twenty-eight NHL players are banding together to put on a special charity game Saturday night at 7 PM in Atlantic City, the proceeds of which will benefit victims of the hurricane.  Tickets will be $20 for upper-level seats and $40-100 for lower-level at Boardwalk Hall, and many tickets have already sold as word has spread fast throughout social media and the Internet.

Many of the players in this game are from the local teams, including goaltenders Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist, who will start for ‘Team Philly’ and ‘Team NY’.  Despite the generic names and short notice, just putting Brodeur and Lundqvist across from each other is sure to jack up interest.  Other local players that are participaing include Rangers’ defensemen Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Steve Eminger as well as forwards Brian Boyle, Jeff Halpern, Taylor Pyatt and Brad Richards – who deserves special notice for helping to organize this game.  Flyer forwards Wayne Simmonds, Dan Carcillo, Scott Hartnell, Jody Shelley and local boy James Van Riemsdyk along with defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn will be representing Team Philly.  Current Devils David Clarkson and Andy Greene and Isles forward Matt Martin round out the local representation, along with current Sabre and ex-Flyer Ville Leino.

In addition to all the local players that will be participating, other big names like Tampa’s Steven Stamkos, the Ducks’ Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan, the Pens’ James Neal and the Caps’ John Carlson are also taking part.  Ryan and Carlson grew up in the area, so this game has some additional meaning for them too.  Other players rounding out the rosters include former Flyers Simon Gagne, Justin Williams and Steve Downie.

Complete rosters are below, and if you’re a little queasy about seeing one of your favorites on ‘Team Philly’ or ‘Team New York’ remember it’s for a good cause!

Team NY forwards: Richards, Ryan, Perry, Leino, Halpern, Neal, Boyle, Martin, Pyatt
Team NY defensemen: Girardi, Staal, Eminger
Team NY goalie: Lundqvist

Team Philly forwards: Stamkos, Simmonds, Carcillo, Hartnell, Gagne, Williams, Clarkson, van Riemsdyk, Shelley, Downie
Team Philly defense: Timonen, Coburn, Carlson, Greene
Team Philly goalie: Brodeur

In the same vein, the Devils’ Cam Janssen also deserves credit for organizing a charity game of his own back in his hometown of St. Louis with many current Blues participating.  Here’s a recap of that night courtesy of Tom Gulutti‘s Fire and Ice blog in the Record:

http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/fireice/cam_janssen_organizing_charity_game_in_missouri_to_benefit_first_responders_impacted_by_sandy/