NHL All-Stars due here Aug. 29

Sun Valley Suns coach Tim Jeneson hopes recently-retired NHL great Wayne Gretzky will return to Sun Valley for the NHL Celebrity All-Star hockey game scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. on resort ice.

The game will raise money for Sun Valley amateur hockey, which includes the Sun Valley Suns men’s hockey team and Sun Valley Junior Hockey Association program.

Jeneson said the charity game is being held to coincide with the Danny Thompson Memorial golf tournament to be held at the Sun Valley and Elkhorn courses Aug. 25-28.

There’s a good likelihood that Gretzky will participate in the hockey game, Jeneson said. And there is some precedent for his appearance.

Gretzky came to Sun Valley during the NHL strike, over the 1994-95 Christmas holiday, and scrimmaged with the Suns over New Year’s Eve weekend.

"We could accomplish great things if Gretzky shows up. Even if he doesn’t, we’ll still do okay," said Jeneson.

That’s because a number of former and current NHL players as well as Hollywood celebrities familiar with the game of ice hockey are due to play in the Sunday night game.

They include Stan Mikita, Rod Gilbert, Ron Duguay, Neil Broten, Pat Lafontaine, Bernie Nicholls, Pat Flatley, Cam Neely, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Brett Hull.

Hollywood celebrities who play with the NHL Celebrity team include Alan Thicke, Kiefer Sutherland, Cuba Gooding Jr., Scott Wolf and Matthew Perry.

The team’s goalie is Sarah Tueting, goalie for the U.S. gold medal women’s hockey team.

Whether the NHL players or celebrities actually show up for the Aug. 29 event is subject to their availability at the time.

The weekend will include a youth hockey clinic on Saturday, plus a pre-game reception at 5 p.m. Sunday followed by the exhibition game.

"We’re looking for any corporate sponsorships," Jeneson said. "This could be a huge fund-raiser for us."