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[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Elk River hockey gala lining up state's best from NHL and D-I ranks

It's going to be a State of Hockey all-star game at Elk River Arena as former Elks Trevor Stewart, Paul Martin and Dan Hinote keep lining up NHL skaters with Minnesota connections for the big fundraiser next Friday (June 23).

Stewart, the University of Connecticut player spearheading the event, e-mailed Monday to report that former Gophers and current NHL players Thomas Vanek (Buffalo), Ben Clymer (Washington), and Barry Tallackson (New Jersey) have been added to the roster, along with St. Cloud State's Mark Parrish (Los Angeles) and Benilde-St. Margaret grad Andrew Alberts (Boston).

Previously announced were Martin (New Jersey), Hinote (Colorado), ex-Gopher great Ryan Potulny (Philadelphia) and native Minnesotans Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay), Eric Rassmussen (New Jersey), and Danny Irmen (Wild).

Current D-I players Stewart, Reid Cashman, Joel Hanson, Timmy Madsen, Nate Prosser, Cole Koidahl, and Barnabas Birkland will also return to their high school rink for the exhibition that'll start at 7 p.m.

Stewart said ticket ($10 each) will be sold at Rockwoods next Wednesday 6 to 9 p.m. and at the arena 5:30 p.m. before the game. Fans will also be treated to live music and an autograph session by Martin, a budding star defenseman for the Devils, from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m.

Proceeds will go to four different youth organizations: Elk River Youth Hockey Association, The ELKS Foundation, The Boys and Girls Club of Elk River, and Hinote's Heroes.

[packerboy]

Sounds like fun ER but wont this cause all kinds of traffic jams. We already know how bad the traffic is up there and now this?

I think if you are going to promote this you shuld get up in a helicopter and watch the traffic for us.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Yes, no doubt it will cause all kinds of traffic problems. It is prior to 9pm on Friday evening, so that brings with it traffic jams up the wazoo.

As far as the helicopter goes, my buddy is taking it to Kansas for the weekend so I won't be able to use it. If you know of another that I can use though, please let me know.