Kessel Comments On Status After Charity Game

Used with permission from theWolverine.com.

The scene was chaotic outside of Yost Arena last night as more than 6,000 people tried to find a parking spot near the arena. Inside Yost, the scene was much different as a sellout crowd oohed and aahed at the sight of 20 current or former NHL players, including Detroit Red Wings Manny Legace, Derian Hatcher, Nick Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper. The Wings were on hand to take part in a charity hockey game organized by former Wolverine David Roberts.

Roberts began putting the event together only a few weeks back and was unsure what to expect as the Dec. 2 event inched closer. He was getting a favorable response from the NHLers, but just within the last week he was contacted by Yzerman, a sports celebrity in Detroit unrivaled by any other athlete, who wanted to participate. That immediately sent ticket sales though the roof.

More than 6,000 fans showed up at Yost, and they were treated to another familiar face – former Red Wing Sergei Federov, who brought current girlfriend Tara Reid. Detroit native and musician Kid Rock and Tigers’ outfielder Bobby Higginson served as coaches to the pro team.

Michigan commitment Jack Johnson participated in Thursday's charity game. The night was a smashing success for all involved. Hockey-starved fans, suffering through the current NHL lockout, got at least one glimpse of their favorite players. The USA Under-18 team, which opposed the pro team, lived out childhood fantasies. The NHLers were able to strap on the skates and play with their buddies again while they contemplate a season without hockey, and Roberts met his goal of raising money for Mott Children’s Hospital.

“I couldn’t be happier. I was hoping for this kind of turnout, but this is the extreme,” Roberts said. “I was hoping to get 4,000 people but we got a last-minute effort with Sergei and Steve Yzerman jumping on board -- that was huge to get Steve to come out. All of the guys have been generous with their time and this has just been an amazing event.”

Yost will return to normal tonight when Michigan hosts Notre Dame in the first game of a home-and-home series this weekend. The Wolverines want to get back to their winning ways after dropping both games at the College Hockey Showcase last weekend.

On Thursday, the Wolverines were like the rest of the fans in attendance, giddy as ever as they watched some of their heroes play. They couldn’t help from smiling, but when asked if this week could be any better, senior alternate captain Brandon Rogers said it could.

“It will be a great weekend if we can beat Notre Dame twice,” Rogers said. “We’re all having a good time, but we know we have business to take care of this weekend.”

Note: Michigan recruiting target Phil Kessel was one of two USA players to score on Legace. Throughout the night he made a couple of nifty moves, drawing the attention of the NHLers.

“No. 8 [Kessel] caught a few of us defensemen off guard a few times,” former Wolverine defender Chris Tamer said. “He’s doing well. They’ve got a lot of good players. You can see with some of the individual moves he made, though, that he’s pretty special.”

After the game, Kessel denied a rumor that he has pared his final list down to two – Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“I haven’t told a single person that it’s only those two, so I don’t know where that’s coming from,” Kessel said. “It’s still open. There are four or five schools I’m looking at. I haven’t made a decision. I’m not ready to do that yet.”