From Herbert Atienza at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital:

Legends of the National Hockey League (NHL) will face off on the ice this week with local amateurs in a friendly game of hockey to raise money for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Scheduled to play are alumni from the Los Angeles Kings, including: Luc Robitaille, Daryl Evans, Mark Hardy, Jim Fox, Nelson Emerson, and more. A total of eight amateur teams are competing in a charity tournament from April 23 to 26, with the winning team playing against the NHL alumni team at 7:15 p.m., Sunday, April 26, at Ice Town, 10540 Magnolia Ave. Suite A, Riverside.

Already, $15,500 has been raised for the Children’s Hospital from a previous auction of autographed jerseys at a recent Ontario Reign hockey game and from fundraising for the charity tournament. A check presentation to Children’s Hospital officials is scheduled before the start of the charity game. The public may watch the match-up between the amateurs and the former pros. Tickets cost $5 each, with gate proceeds benefiting the Children’s Hospital and the Los Angeles Kings non-profit organization.

“We are very grateful to Ice Town for their tremendous support,” said Tiffany Hoekstra, coordinator of the Champions Program of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation. “The funds will go a long way in helping provide healing for thousands of California’s youth who will experience a serious illness or injury during the coming year.”

Matt Dunaev, general manager and hockey director of Ice Town, said he was overwhelmed by the response to the charity tournament, including the support from the NHL alumni. “We thought it would be a great event,” he said. “It’s something fun for the adults and would benefit a great cause.”